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Wojcik Slak’s evocative fourth feature is the story of an emotionally distant mother and her son. Nina (played expertly by Maren Eggert) is consumed by her demanding job as an orchestra conductor and struggles to connect with Lars (Jona Levin Nicolai). She’s deeply engrossed in preparations for a rendition of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, poised to be a pivotal moment in her career.
The gap between reality and metaphor can seem a bit stretched
But when Lars is injured in a suspicious school incident, Nina decides to step away from her busy life to focus on her son. The pair escape to a remote island in western France where they usually spend their summers. But when a winter storm isolates them on the island, their strained relationship reaches a breaking point, the tension mirroring the harsh and desolate landscape around them and leading to misunderstandings and suspicions.
Slak explores the notion of a contemporary family on edge through the tropes of a contained chamber drama. At times the gap between reality and metaphor can seem a bit stretched, and the long shadow of Tar (the critically-acclaimed 2022 film about another dark, emotionally complex female conductor) looms large. While the movie doesn’t quite hit the same high notes, it’s nonetheless worth seeking out. ★★★
- Not a Word, In theatres July 4
