Karla’s World – Karlas kabale (2007)

Directed by: Charlotte Sachs Bostrup | 92 minutes | drama, comedy, family | Actors: Elena Arndt-Jensen, Nikolaj Støvring Hansen, Jonathan Juel Werner, Ellen Hillingsø, Nicolaj Kopernikus, Allan Olsen, Kristian Halken, Paw Henriksen, Ulla Henningsen, Lars Knutzon, Sofie Stougaard, Laura Rihan, Birgitte Simonsen, Søren Skuli Malling, Ulver Abildgaard, Rikke Louise Andersson, Regitze Stampe, David Petersen, Mette Stender, Tine Bojanna Bjerregaard

Former top model Renée Toft Simonsen wrote the children’s book series about the young girl Karla, which is popular in Denmark (three parts now). ‘Karlas kabale’ is the first part, followed by ‘Karla & Katrine’ and ‘Karla & Jonas’. All three books have since been made into movies. The first film adaptation won a Robert Film Academy Award (Danish Oscar) in its home country for best song (Lille Svale by Elisabeth Gjerluff Nielsen) and was nominated in four other categories (best family film, best score, best supporting actor and actor). ‘Karla’s world’, as the film will be released in the Netherlands, is suitable for all ages, but given the themes, children from the age of nine will get the most out of it.

Karla is ten years old. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her brother Mads Morten with her mother Rikke and her new husband Leif. She also has a half brother, Junior. Junior and Mads Morten often play together, which often makes Karla feel lonely. Christmas is approaching, but there is little to notice, Karla thinks. Her mother is only busy cleaning and Leif, who is a journalist, has to leave just before Christmas for an interview. Her room will never be finished like this! And that while Leif has promised that it will be all right before Christmas…

Karla’s greatest wish is that they can all celebrate Christmas together, instead of twice separately. Since their parents’ divorce, Karla and Mads Morten have been celebrating Christmas Eve with her father on December 23. Her father Allen is wonderful. He invents crazy games like a pirate fight in the garden. He has only one problem: he is an alcoholic. During a wild game, Mads Morten gets a hole in his head. Because it has to be stitched, they have to go to the hospital, but how should that be done? Because Allen’s driver’s license was taken away. Help comes from an unexpected source when Buster, a downtrodden bank manager who now lives as a bum, offers to bring them. Karla and Buster become cautious friends, and Karla invites him to dinner and a game of Monopoly.

But then things go wrong: Allen calls the Christmas party at the last minute because he’s had too much to drink, Rikke leaves the house to Karla because she has a migraine attack, and then Mads Morten and Junior break things down, after which Karla the gets blamed. Karla has had enough and runs away from home. Through all kinds of wanderings she ends up with Buster and Ejnar, a mentally handicapped boy. How will Karla celebrate Christmas this year? The original title (‘Karlas kabale’) means something different than the translated one: ‘kabale’ stands for solitaire, a game that is impossible to win. In the film, Gudrun, a sweet woman who catches Karla when she has run away, compares her family situation to that game. She teaches Karla not to give up and that she can win the game if she wants to.

‘Karla’s world’ is an accessible, warm family film in which a “modern” family is central. Many children will be able to recognize themselves to a greater or lesser extent in the problems Karla faces: a blended family, parents who don’t have time for you and annoying brothers or sisters. Karla is a positive girl, brave and decisive. Elena Arndt-Jensen convincingly portrays the girl and makes it easy for the viewer to empathize with her. The other roles are also excellently filled. Together they form a believable family. The role of the eccentric Buster is also worth mentioning: It’s a joy to watch Kristian Halken disappear into his portrayal of the businessman with a dubious past. Although he seems to run from his own problems (he regularly makes fake calls on his cell phone, which doesn’t even work) and is a compulsive liar, he does teach Karla some important life lessons. It is nice that the moral is absolutely not too thick on top and clichés are largely avoided. Leif, for example, is quite a cool pear.

There are some editing tricks in the beginning, which distract from the story rather than contribute to it. Fortunately, later in the film, the basics are relied upon: a strong story and compelling characters. And although ‘Karla’s World’ is set before and during Christmas, it is not a typical Christmas film. But it is a film that is extremely suitable to watch in the warm presence of your own family (in whatever composite form) during the winter days. Or another season, because the themes are universal and appealing.