Helmer & søn (2006)
8/10
Memorable Family Reunion
26 July 2007
Well, this Danish short feature certainly had a few surprises at the end! Ha, ha. I can't help but laugh writing that. When you see this, you'll know what I mean.

For most of this, it looks like mainly a short soap opera as family members quarrel at a hospital-like nursing home. They are there - brother, sister, daughter - because they were called by the institution to help with a problem. Obviously, this family rarely gets together.

It seems Helmer's father has locked himself into a closet and won't come out. The son tries to talk some sense into dad, who is not happy after being in this place for a month. The son pleads for him to give it more time. In the meantime, his cell phone keeps wringing with business calls and the dad, who passed on the family business to his son, tries to tell him what to say. This leads to conflict but then the sister and her daughter enter the room and they aren't a lot of help, either.

What happens in the last few minutes is shocking, and sentimental at the same time. In the end, without giving anything away, the father and son have a new bond and appreciation for each other. This is an odd little story but one with a lot of hidden meanings and worthwhile to watch. Just stick with it.
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