The Patron
A cleaner poses as an art patron in this thrilling film that is like the boozy Scandinavian cousin to Parasite and Funny Games.
An anonymous young woman (Carla Sehn) dreams of gaining status in the art world while making a living by cleaning an art museum and the house of the extremely rich Annika Franke; patron and gallery owner. When Franke leaves for a trip, the woman decides, on a whim, to appropriate her identity and go to the gallery’s opening.
At the opening the woman meets two boys, art students working as waiters, Gustav (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen) and Salle (Maxwell Cunningham), whom she invites to an afterparty. How long can “Annika” uphold her white lie, and finally, who uses whom in this twisted roleplay?
Julia Thelin has gathered glory with her short films all the way from Cannes, and her electric and sexy feature debut, The Patron, is like the wine drunk Scandi-cousin of Parasite and Funny Games. Strict genre lines aren’t being drawn, though. Thelin intensifies the atmosphere scene by scene, and the primitive instincts brewing below surface are constantly about to gush.
Spectacular Sehn, Tønnesen and Cunningham build “Annika”, Gustav and Salle, hungry for approval and recognition, into complex and irresistible characters. Director-screenwriter Thelin’s background in dance is also deliciously visible and audible in the film.
Tommi Kumén (translated by Vilja Hynynen)
Screenings
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Kino TöölöFri 18.9. at 18.30–20.10100 min, 1/5
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Kinopalatsi 5Mon 21.9. at 18.30–20.10100 min, 2/5Guests present: Julia Thelin
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Cinema OrionTue 22.9. at 16.30–18.10100 min, 3/5
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Bio Rex LasipalatsiFri 25.9. at 21.00–22.40100 min, 4/5
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Kinopalatsi 1Sat 26.9. at 21.15–22.55100 min, 5/5
Trailer
