Roland (Baard Owe) always took the greatest risks as a child – he could hold his finger in a candle flame longer than anyone. Now he's going to Copenhagen where his son Jakob (Carsten Bjørnlund) lives. Roland is middle-aged and hasn't seen his son very much as he grew up or in adulthood.

Roland's past life is recalled throughout the film by his contemporaries. They are seen at a reunion but tell Roland's story straight to camera from their homes. Their recollections of strange events and dares move on to him meeting the girl who was to become his wife. Roland after marriage was never there – he was a theatre director travelling all over Europe.

Roland tries to resume contact with his son. Jakob is stand-offish, doesn't want to know. Roland can't stay with his son and finds some basic accommodation. At the theatre where he is developing and directing a new play, things at first seem to be going well. This contrasts with his increasingly desperate attempts to get his son to return his calls.

He visits his school-teacher friend Klaus (Claus Flygare); more than once. Klaus tells him he must give it time, and eventually starts to lose patience with him. Roland cashes in a large pension and tries to buy his son's affection. His increasing frustration shows in his working with Lotte (Lotte Arnsbjerg) the main actress and writer of the play he's directing.

Roland constantly tries new strategies to make emotional contact with his son and constantly fails. His underhand approach alienates Jakob. Roland doesn't really know what to do. He tries charm, a return to his youth, identification with his son's friends in football-kit, and a drama-exercise with Jakob's girlfriend.

After visiting his wife's grave and striking up a relationship with a barmaid, he invites his son and partner out to dinner. All seems to go well but again there is a destructive flaw in his approach.

Roland returns to Germany, branded a coward. He is where he was at the beginning of the film. This study of a man who has let certain aspects of his life slip by is underplayed. Roland's character gradually insinuates itself into every situation and everyone he meets. The search for lost youth, and the search for what he could have been as a father, are portrayed in a straightforward way. But his contemporaries' commentaries on his past provide an extra layer providing insight into how Roland became what he is now.

CAST: (imdb): www.imdb.com/title/tt1143149/

COMPANY: (imdb): www.imdb.com/title/tt1143149/

END

(c) Peter Andrews 2008

reviewed Thursday 4 December 08 / The Roxy, Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com