A 26-minute gut punch about the moment a kid stops believing in his dad.
When 9-year old Sam realizes the true nature of his irresponsible father John, he must decide if he is willing to stand up to him and possibly compromise their fragile relationship.
Acting
Brandon Hender's silent devastation is crushing.
Direction
Kragh-Jacobsen lets horror live in mundane spaces.
Director
Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kragh-Jacobsen shot this as his graduation film from the National Film School of Denmark; it won Best Short at BFI London.
The turtle itself is never named—critics read it as Sam's own slow, armored survival instinct mirroring his need to protect himself from John's chaos.
DK
US
