Opening 18 Mar 2010
Directed by:
Erik Poppe
Writing credits:
Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
Principal actors:
Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen, Trine Dyrholm, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Fredrik Grønda, Trond Espen Seim
This Norwegian award-winning film asks a simple biblical question: is it possible
for us to simply forget and forgive someone no matter what has happened in the
past? Erik Poppe’s film opens innocently enough with Agnes, a mother (Trine Dyrholm), leaving her child in a
stroller outside a café. She quickly buys him a hot chocolate and then misfortune strikes. Someone bumps into her,
spilling the drink on her, and she then takes the time to remove the hot chocolate stain from her white sweater.
Unknown to her, two teenagers make off with her child who is never seen again. The story line then spits in two.
One follows her current life and memories of the events that had taken place, and the other shows that of Jan Thomas (Pal Sverre Valheim
Hagen), who was one of the teenage boys responsible for her son’s disappearance. Eight years later Thomas
is let out of prison and tries a new start in life. He has one asset: the ability to play an
organ, which lands him a job with housing at the local church. He feels confident that he can move forward
without looking back, but the director uses the music Bridge over Trouble Water from Simon and Garfunkel
to dive deep into his troubled past. This film is unique since it forces us to look at our own values and judgments. We are confronted with the frightening
reality that both Thomas and Agnes have to face in order to go forward with their lives. This is film that you won’t forget. (Shelly Schoeneshoefer)
