Ensurdecedor (2015)

The fractious family of a father and his two sons confront their different feelings and memories of their deceased wife and mother, a famed war photographer.

Director:

Joachim Trier

Writers:

Joachim Trier (screenplay), Eskil Vogt (screenplay)

Stars:

Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, Isabelle Huppert

12 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gabriel Byrne	...	Gene
Isabelle Huppert	...	Isabelle
Jesse Eisenberg	...	Jonah
Devin Druid	...	Conrad
Amy Ryan	...	Hannah
Ruby Jerins	...	Melanie
Megan Ketch	...	Amy
David Strathairn	...	Richard
Rachel Brosnahan	...	Erin
Russell Posner	...	Kenneth
Maryann Urbano	...	The Agency Woman
Donna Mitchell	...	The Curator
Harry Ford	...	Ralph
Leslie Lyles	...	Principal
Luke Robertson	...	Man Behind Counter (Coffee Shop)

Storyline

An upcoming exhibition celebrating photographer Isabelle Reed three years after her untimely death, brings her eldest son Jonah back to the family house - forcing him to spend more time with his father Gene and withdrawn younger brother Conrad than he has in years. With the three of them under the same roof, Gene tries desperately to connect with his two sons, but they struggle to reconcile their feelings about the woman they remember so differently.

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Plot Keywords:

2010s | troubled teen | father son estrangement | car truck crash | repeated scene from a different perspective | 

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Taglines:

Break the silence

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

M/12

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Norway France Denmark USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 May 2016 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Ensurdecedor

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,259, 10 April 2016

Gross USA:

$163,807

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,160,724

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motlys, Memento Films Production, Nimbus Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to the terrorist attacks in France, the title for the local release was changed to 'Back Home'

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Quotes

Isabelle: One morning you're over there doing something you feel is important, but it's hard as well, you know? You can't wait to go back home. Then finally you're there. You always arrive exhausted, having changed plans like four times.

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Connections

References Billy Elliot (2000)

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Soundtracks

Release The Kraken
Written by Joachim Trier (as J. Trier)
Copyright Controlled
Performed by Joachim Trier
(P)2015 All rights reserved

User Reviews

The difficulty of communication and living together

Acclaimed Norwegian filmmakers Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt has done another profound film which will be talked about in years to come. This film was chosen for the main program at this years Cannes festival, after Trier's last movie was shown in the festivals' "Un certain regard"- program. Joachim Triers granddad, Erik Løchen, participated in the main program with his acclaimed "Jakten"/"The hunt" in 1960, and Lars von Trier is also said to be a distant relative, though I haven't found the proof of that.

In this drama we meet the men, and the woman (Isabelle Huppert) of which their life has circled around. The mother died a couple of years ago in a car accident after colliding with a meeting trailer. The husband (Gabriel Byrne), which is a teacher, and the two sons has moved on, and we come into their lives when there is to be a memorial exhibition for her, when the oldest son (Jesse Eisenberg) just see his first kid being born at the hospital, and the youngest (Devin Druid) is seemingly living in his own world and in the video games he plays.

The film must be interpreted by each viewer, and will mean different thing to each one giving time to this film, but I would say the film is about awareness in your own life, as well as the difficulty in living together with other persons, especially if you don't have the communication needed.

The film is also from time to time bringing you into the thought of all the main persons, and especially into the youngest son's stream of consciousness of weird thoughts. The three men communicate, but are all keeping secrets from each other. These secrets seem more or less profound for each of them, and are all stories which should be told. How this all unravels is the excitement and tension of the film.

Well, go watch it! The film has capability to both be life changing and food for thought, and I liked it on that basis. I was expecting the film to have a stronger emotional impact on me, which disappointed me a little, but it sure will do that to others, depending on life experiences.

The style has obviously been very influenced by several great film makers, amongst them, some of the French masters. An obvious reference to me was Louis Malle's masterpiece "Le feu follet", and Luis Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie", but there's many more.

We've just seen the start of the magic to come out of the friendship between Joachim Trier and fellow script writer and filmmaker Eskil Vogt. I sense there are great films to come out of this cooperation.

Well worth a watch, but don't expect an action movie. Be ready to use your brain.