Acts of Love
Hanna’s sheltered life in a New Age community in the Danish countryside is thrown into turmoil when her brother arrives unexpectedly, stirring up deeply buried traumas.
Far from the commotion of the city lies a secluded house inhabited by a religious Christian community. The community is led by the charismatic psychologist Kirsten (Ann Eleonora Jørgensen), whose methods are far from conventional. Her methods include “mirroring,” in which the community members role-play each other’s traumas, among many others.
Hanna (former ballet dancer Cecilie Lassen), who desperately wants a child, has lived in the community for seven years. Although the community’s love is believed to cure infertility, there has been no miracle baby. When Hanna’s brother Jakob (Jonas Holst Schmidt) makes an unexpected appearance, the dynamics of the community shift. The siblings are bound to each other by memories of their alcoholic father, who died when they were still children. However, Hanna hates her brother—or is hate really the right word?
Director Jeppe Rønde’s psychological drama explores trauma, love, and the abuse of power intertwined with religion. He allows the dynamics to quietly fester toward unexpected paths, and ultimately, not even taboos remain hidden beneath the surface. Even Jakob, who ridiculed the community’s methods, ends up reliving something he thought was long forgotten. The film draws on Rønde’s sister’s experiences in a religious community.
Taina Vuokko (translated by Pauliina Jännes)
Collaboration
