Adam's Apples functions as both a dismantling and a spoof of the Book of Job; it does so by acknowledging and emphasizing the dark humor present within the biblical story, and also by correctly suggesting that Job’s madness is more worthy of discussion than his patience. Danish priest Ivan (played by Mads Mikkelsen) embodies aspects of both Job and Don Quixote (the costume designers deserve recognition for dressing him in priestly attire that resembles the subject of a portrait attributed to Juan de Jáuregui, believed to be Cervantes), with his insanity being the only thing that makes his otherwise difficult life tolerable. The film offers an explanation for Ivan’s relentlessly optimistic outlook through what is described as “Ravashi Syndrome” (“Ravashi was an Indian footballer who lost both feet in a go-karting accident in 1957. In shock from the accident he ran home on the stumps of his legs. His brain blocked out the fact that he had no feet. For two months he went to practice. He kept his midfield position”; “With no feet?”; “It was a bad team. They were in the fifth division or something like that”). Mikkelsen delivers an excellent performance as the naive Ivan, delivering bizarre lines with a straight face and somehow managing to make them seem sincere (one of the film’s funniest moments occurs when he tells Adam – a neo-nazi assigned to Ivan's rehabilitation program for parolees –, while looking at a picture of Hitler: “handsome man. Is he your father?”). Ulrich Thomsen is also quite good as the confused and conflicted Adam, from whom Ivan elicits both his best qualities and his worst—for instance, taking Ivan to the hospital each time Adam attacks him. Generally speaking, Ivan endures more physical abuse than any ordinary person could withstand, but the film isn't intended to be taken literally (which makes it easier to find humor in the character’s various misfortunes). Like the biblical book that inspired it, Adam’s Apples is a parable, although not one promoting blind faith. It would be easy to write off Ivan as someone who has fallen prey to extremism if the filmmakers hadn't balanced him with Adam, who is equally extreme. It becomes clear that Ivan’s unwavering belief isn’t the answer to life’s problems, but neither is Adam’s pessimistic rejection of everything. The best approach seems to be finding a middle ground, which Ivan and Adam achieve when they visit and offer comfort to an elderly man tormented by memories of his time as a guard in a concentration camp.

Source on TMDB