Sweden, shortly before Christmas. Surgeon Rickard is told the job he expected goes to a Dane, because of his substance abuse. It's too late to cancel dinner with his in-laws. The guest couple announces their in-vitro is a success. Then Richard's wife learns he cheated her with Sofie. Meanwhile ugly hag Anita trades drugs to afford a taser to use on her ex Olof and his former physiotherapist. Workaholic builder Anders is disgusted by his grieve-deranged client Knut's plan and decides to spend time on his family, not just money.
Acting
Pernilla August's controlled devastation in every barely-there smile.
Direction
Runge's ruthless cross-cutting makes domesticity feel like thriller.
Writing
Four stories, zero redemption—Swedish screenwriting at its most honest.
Director
Björn Runge
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of the 'Swedish misery cinema' boom; released same year as 'Evil' and 'Songs from the Second Floor'.
Runge later directed Glenn Close in 'The Wife'—this film proves he understood female rage decades earlier.
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