Together

How do you deal with the tragic loss of a family member? Some cry for weeks and weeks. Others will put on a brave face for the benefit of the outside world, while some start drinking. And then of course there are those who dress up in their old karate outfit two sizes too small and watch old Bruce Lee movies. When his wife Kristine dies in a car accident and he suddenly finds himself a single parent to their 12-year-old son Pål, Roger resorts to all of these coping mechanisms. Blaming himself, he becomes increasingly irresponsible, recklessly drinking and picking fights. Finally he ends up calling child protection services. "I can't be your dad anymore," he says to Pål, and looks away.The choice to make the film's lead in many respects quite detestable distinguishes TOGETHER from other similar mouring-centered family dramas. Clearly influenced by the Dogma movement - using the characteristic visual aesthetics of handheld camerawork with fluttering and discrete movements to represent instability and intimacy - Jordal creates a fascinating study in unsuccessful grief management.

Orig. title
Sammen: Cast
Jonathan Espolin, Evy Kasseth Røsten, Fridtjov Såheim, Odin Waage: Producer
Tom Rysstad: Script
Matias Armand Jordal: Cinematography
Odd Reinhardt Nicolaysen: Music
Johan Söderqvist: Spoken language
Norwegian: Subtitle
English