LOVEABLE
(director/writer: Lilja Ingolfsdottir; cinematographer: Oystein Mamen; editor: Lilja Ingolfsdottir; music: ; cast: Helga Guren (Maria), Oddgeir Thune (Sigmund), Heidi Gjermundsen Broch (Terapeut), Maja Tothammer-Hruza (Marias datter Alma), Marte Solem (Marias Venninne), Elisabeth Sand (Marias Mor); Runtime: 104; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Thomas Robsahm; A Nordisk Film/Amarcord; 2024-Norway-in Norwegian with English subtitles)
“A compelling emotional drama about the angst over a marriage separation and the problems that arise from a second marriage coming apart.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Norwegian filmmaker Lilja Ingolfsdottir in her debut films a compelling emotional drama about the angst over a marriage separation and the problems that arise from a second marriage coming apart.
The attractive blonde Maria (Helga Guran, a stage actress) has recently separated from her husband and has two children. At a party, she’s attracted to the hunky, nice guy musician Sigmund (Oddgeir Thune). At first he avoids her, but they later meet in town and soon after dating they quickly marry. They have two children, but after seven years their relationship cools off.
Maria narrates. She’s depicted as having anger management issues. It seems like she’s a homemaker, as we’re not told if she has a job.
One day Sigmund returns from being away for some time at a recording session, which frequently happens. Maria unloads on him and claims she’s the one always looking after the kids while he takes no responsibility for them. Maria then in frustration goes on a rant to her teenage daughter Alma (Maja Tothammer-Hruza).
Maria, now 40, gets involved in counseling sessions with the patient therapist (Heidi Gjermundsen Broch) trying to help her curb her anger and find her groove. For further reflection on herself, she visits her mom (Elisabeth Sand) at her home. Meanwhile hubby threatens divorce if she can’t change.
It’s never made clear if Sigmund is a bad father or just one with some faults.
The gist of the film is in the therapy sessions, as Maria tries to find herself through them. The sessions show that both marriage partners if they learned how to work better together would have a happier and less tense marriage.
Though seemingly an unsympathetic figure, the fiercely proud Maria shows that not everything is her fault and that she can respond well when she’s not crushed by the mundane problems in life. When one-and-one with the therapist, the kindness she receives gives her the courage to believe things can be worked out.
It played at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 12/8/2024 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com