At the age of 30, Director Karen Winther does a retrospective on her troubled youth. At 15, in 1995, she joined an Oslo-based group of socialists and anarchists. Within a matter of months, she decides to join a neo-Nazi group and inform on her now former colleagues. Mixed up? Misspent youth? It gets worse! In her self-reflection, Karen acknowledges a vicious assault on her mother, double-crossing her best friend, and various other anti-social behavior.
Winther's film is billed as an examination of why she she betrayed her best friends. But she doesn't really answer that question. Came from a broken home? Craved attention? What we never see is her take responsibility for her actions. At one point of utter absurdity, Karen's mother apologizes for her poor upbringing! There it is, Karen is absolved! The Betrayal is an exercise in self-indulgence by a director who still does not know what she stands for.
Winther's film is billed as an examination of why she she betrayed her best friends. But she doesn't really answer that question. Came from a broken home? Craved attention? What we never see is her take responsibility for her actions. At one point of utter absurdity, Karen's mother apologizes for her poor upbringing! There it is, Karen is absolved! The Betrayal is an exercise in self-indulgence by a director who still does not know what she stands for.
