The past weekend was the Nordic Council Film Award. Since 2006 this annual event has ”awarded an artistically original film that is rooted in Nordic culture”.

The nominees, one from each of the participating countries: Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, were presented at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, Norway.

A common thread that runs through the nominated films is how people react to tragedy in their immediate realm. It is human to have plans, to have bright, romantic ideas about the future, but as we know the future is not just in our own hands. When tragedy strikes and we are left with shattered dreams, how do we move on with our pain and loss? What happens inside us? What is triggered inside us? How do we respond outwardly to the world around us?

• In the Danish film Uncle (Onkel) by Frelle Petersen, it is Kristine who has lived since her teenage years at the farm of her disabled uncle in Southern Denmark. Without much explanation, it is referred to that her mother died of a malignant disease and that her father took then his own life. The  relationship with her uncle is built upon routines, with very little conversation. Apparently they need one another and find some basic balance in sharing life and work on the farm together. On this solitary farm the world events pass by through short news items on the television in the background. When things happen that could lead to change and bring new opportunities for Kristine, the question is if she dares to take them. A beautiful, special film.

• The Norwegian film Beware of Children (Barn), made by the novelist and filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud, portrays similar questions in a school environment. The film starts with the accidental death of a 13-year old boy Jamie on the school soccer field. Apparently he has been pushed by 13-year old friend, a girl named Lykke. Jamie’s father is a right-wing politician, who has a relationship with the school principal Liv. Liv needs to deal with the consequences for the reputation of the school. Also here, a tragedy that no one could predict or imagine creates all kind of guilt and defense mechanisms. Haugerud does not make it into a thriller nor seeks solutions to all the questions the accident raises. He is predominantly interested in the emotional needs and traumas the tragic incident causes in people and in actions or lack of action of the characters, pressured by their loyalties. He makes us wonder what we do with small bits of new information. If they should lead us to change our position or if the consequences of doing so would be unreasonable. How do we live with things we know but have not acted on? Highly recommended!

• Even the Finnish nominee Dogs Don’t Wear Pants by Jukka-Pekka Valkenpää and the Swedish one Charter by Amanda Kernell have their starting-point in deeply traumatic experiences, triggering unimagined reactions to deal with the pain and loss.

• The Icelandic film Echo by Runar Runarsson gives a remarkable feeling of modern Icelandic society with all its excitement and concerns.

Nordic cinema is alive and well. Whenever you come across one of these titles in your local cinema, give them a chance!

Rinus, October 2020

*update “Beware of Children” wins the 2020 Nordic Council Film Prize

*image posted for non commercial purposes under ‘fair use’ of copyright material in recommendation of the film