I scrolled through Netflix and picked the first romantic drama on my recommended list. Perhaps that was a good thing, because Copenhagen turned out to be one of the most thought­provoking movies I have ever seen.

Set in Copenhagen, the movie tells the tale of thirty year old William, an immature man from America who fails to face the realities of adulthood. After splitting off from a friend on a backpacking trip, he staggers from bar to bar in Copenhagen, staying in youth hostels and carrying a letter and a few old photos. The letter was written from William’s grandfather to his father and the photos were of his father as a little boy in Denmark. Because it is written in poor Danish, neither William nor Google translate can decipher it.

Then along comes Effy, a young coffee barista. She reads the letter aloud to William and the two embark on a quest to recreate each photo of his father. Effy helps William deal with the discovery of his family’s unsavory history and William gives Effy an escape from her troublesome home life. The two connect in ways they did not think possible and fall in love. The relationship becomes takes a turn when Effy tells us, and William, her age of 14 years. However, as William connects with Effy, he realizes the vitality of growing up; if a 14 year old girl from Copenhagen can do it, so can he.

The film cast delightfully simple characters who attracted me from the start. Both characters were calm but passionate, neither flashy. Best known for his role in the show Game of Thrones, Gethin Anthony plays William. William enters the film as a frustrating and spoiled character. As the plot progresses and we learn of his upbringing, he becomes sincere, caring, and even positive. He shows his new appreciation for people in his love for Effy. She is played by Frederikke Dahl Hansen, an emerging Danish actress. She portrays Effy as clever and reserved, but with a touch of a wild side.

Although the 16 year age gap shocks William, it does not send him away. In fact, the movie brings about the highly illegal and provocative relationship in such a gentle manner for the audience, it increases William’s passion for Effy. They only spend one week together, but in that week, each shares more of their dark pasts, dreams, and frustrations than they have with anyone else. The two kiss once, but it is short and drunken. His constant incredulity at the knowledge of her age reassures the audience, as they are feeling the same shock. However, as William matures, he takes on a role more similar to an older brother. I almost exited out of the movie when I found out Effy’s age, but loyalty to William and his changing character kept me enraptured until the end.

Effy gives William a second chance. She gives him confidence to grow up into himself. The movie leaves viewers questioning the vital aspects of a relationship, disregarding barriers. Effy and William teach us that a truly beneficial relationship disregards time, age, and background, and becomes one of forgiveness, fulfillment, and assurance.