Elskling (2024)

In itself the film knows how to touch on the psychology quite well, including the search for yourself and the effect of your relationship with your parents. But in real life that takes longer and in this film everything goes quite fast so the effect does not really come. In addition, the pacing is not always that good. That is why I do not give a very high score.

Fascinating film nonetheless. I think everyone will recognize or make something different out of it. I think Maria does have some narcissistic characteristics and is quite gaslighting. Her partner does not speak out but from experience I know that sometimes you do not want that because then there will be a conflict. I thought that was done quite well. 3.5*.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Maria [Helga Guren] is divorced and has two children when she meets the love of her life in Sigmund [Oddgeir Thune]. Seven years later they have two children of their own, but the relationship threatens to fall apart due to endless quarreling. Eventually Maria allows herself to be persuaded to go into therapy and together with her patient therapist [Heide Gjermundson] Maria discovers her shortcomings as well as (crucially) the cause of them. A beautifully written, authentic decimation of a loving relationship that is plagued by neuroses and is full of realistic, often painful moments, including Maria's attempt to have an open conversation with her mother [Elisabeth Sand] about her childhood. It is a masterful moment in this extremely intelligent, confrontational family drama.

Translated from Dutch · View original