A Copenhagen Love Story Review: Raw & Rushed

In this Netflix rom-com, successful writer Mia falls for single father Emil in the most whirlwind way possible. However, their relationship is tested when they realise that they might not be able to conceive naturally and, in turn, take the help of IVF to have a baby. In the midst of scheduled sex and artificial hormones, will they be able to keep the love that brought them together alive?

The film has a runtime of 103 minutes and is based on Tine Høeg’s novel Sult.

A Copenhagen Love Story Review

Is love enough to last a relationship, especially when children come into the picture… or, well, don’t? Mia and Emil are supposedly made for each other and share a romantic and whirlwind romance together. Although the connection is not immediate at first, when getting to know each other, it’s clear that there’s something there. The chemistry that actors Rosalinde Mynster and Joachim Fjelstrup share is almost electric and it’s clear that Emil and Mia love each other from the moment that they lock lips.

Mia’s relationship with Emil’s two children, Selma and Felix, is also heartening and natural and before long, she becomes a part of their family. I like that the film doesn’t give us a conflict in the relationship through Emil’s ex-partner and it arises from their own personal issues. However, the personal issues in A Copenhagen Love Story are just brutal. It’s one thing to have relationship issues, but when two people who love each other find themselves drifting away due to not being able to conceive is just a heartbreak that is difficult to witness.

I think infertility is very heartbreaking but watching it break down in front of us is just so painful and Mynster is so raw that it’s hard to not feel a pit in your stomach every time there’s bad news. I felt nothing but empathy and heartbreak for her, even at her worst. I mean, there were moments when she was absolutely annoying, but it’s hard to not understand her point of view of this endless circle of hope and heartbreak. The film paints a vivid story of this loss throughout the runtime and I think it might trigger some people who have gone through something similar.

However, I think I didn’t like the fact that the film doesn’t show us the reconciliation process that well. One moment they have broken up and the other Emil has forgiven Mia for everything. It feels a bit rushed, more so because we are unable to hear their conversation which made me feel cheated. Considering we have gone on this traumatic journey with her, I think her salvation comes quickly and out of the blue. It’s also a bit hard to imagine Emil turning himself around about this, considering the effect it must have had on his children.

I also found the last bit of the film to be quite rushed. Going only by the film, I think it could’ve explored Emil and Mia coming together a bit more before jumping right into lovey-dovey. It takes away from the reality of the situation by quite a lot.

Final Thoughts

A Copenhagen Love Story is brutal in the first half and makes your heart heavy for Mia’s physical and mental struggles. Although the second half feels a bit rushed, I enjoyed the overall experience, although it was quite the morose one.

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