A Family-And Family (2010)

Directed by: Pernille Fischer Christensen | 102 minutes | drama | Actors: Johan Philip Asbæk, Jesper Christensen, Lene Maria Christensen, Peter Christoffersen, Anne Louise Hassing, Coco Hjardemaal, Gustav Fischer Kjærulff, Line Kruse

The Rheinwalds form a close-knit family, one where people kiss each other on the mouth as a greeting. Life in ‘A Family’ (in Danish: ‘En Familie’) is accompanied by the smell of freshly baked bread: everything revolves around wheat and rye. Under the guidance of paterfamilias Rikard, the Rheinwalds have grown into a modest bakery dynasty – complete with royal predicate. There is therefore no joint dinner, but joint lunch. If someone is ill, arranging cakes is an important task. When daughter Ditte tells Rikard she has the chance to work in a gallery in New York, his response is: “New York? I don’t like bagels.”

Rikard’s dominant personality is in good hands with actor Jesper Christensen – he played the evil mastermind in 007 films ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’. Even now that he’s getting older, he can’t let go of the bread factory. And as long as Rikard holds sway, Ditte (Lene Maria Christensen) and her boyfriend Peter (Pilou Asbaek) can dream of an exciting life in The Big Apple. That benevolence changes abruptly when Rikard becomes terminally ill. Cancer. During the fight between him and his invincible quandary, Rikard’s headstrong stubbornness turns into a compelling, oppressive force that denies a teenage girl, demanding an independent woman to take a responsibility that is not her own. Slowly but surely, the cancer brings an entire family to a standstill. And although the focus of ‘A Family’ is mainly focused on Ditte, Rikard’s shadow becomes more and more dominant and his inner struggle and confusion become more interesting.

‘A Family’ is partly told with handheld camera work, shrill daylight and a bare soundtrack – well-known stylistic devices in Danish. In terms of content, the film is about the question of how much a person, a sick person, is allowed to demand from his environment. About how much you should and can give. About the identity that a family gives to the individual, and what is asked in return. ‘A Family’ is not always a very captivating answer. It is in particular Jesper Christensen who raises ‘A Family’ above ground level. He makes Rikard a sometimes Shakespearean king-in-loose-pants whose mind can’t stomach his ending role in this universe. While his body is already tearing down the tent.