PAHA PERHE (BAD FAMILY)
Finland, 2010, 95 minutes. Colour.
Directed by Aleksei Salmenpera.
Bad Family is about a mixed family, the father a judge, stern in his behaviour, supervising the son that he has brought up, wanting him to be a fencing champion. He has married a younger wife and has a younger child. When his ex-wife dies, his daughter whom he had not known comes to stay with the family. The young son is attracted to her and the father suspects incest.
While the brother and sister are attracted, the relationship is platonic, each helping the other, she an older woman getting a job, he finishing his time at school. However, it is the obsessive father who is the problem, suspicious, putting his children in situations and spying on them. The reaction of young wife is particularly critical.
The film is an interesting exploration of characters, and critical emotional situations.
1. The impact of the film? A Finnish film? About families? Interrelationships?
2. The Finnish setting? The city? The homes? Martial arts? The courts? Funerals? Realism? The musical score?
3. The title – and the reference to the father, to the son, to the daughter? The ex-wife?
4. The focus on Mikael? The close-ups, the intensity of his face? His observing his son, his demands on him? At home? His wife, their relationship? The young son? His relationship with Milo? The discussions? Possibilities for study? His work as a judge? His hard verdicts? The news about his ex-wife’s death? The back-story about this relationship? The abandonment of his daughter? Her coming to the house, the funeral, his invitation for her to stay with them?
5. His wife, their son? An ordinary life? Love, tensions? The funeral, the arrival of the daughter? The effect?
6. Milo, his age, studies, his sport? The fencing? His expectations? His wanting to be out of his father’s influence? The funeral? The arrival of his sister? Not knowing her? His response to her strong stances? Their sharing? Their being together? Their father’s suspicions? Milo and his stance? The effect on him, in maturity, sexually? The culmination of his father’s supervision, demands?
7. The daughter, not knowing her father, her experience with her mother? Coming to the funeral, staying, her work? Her attraction towards Milo? The relationship? The effect of Mikail’s suspicions? Assertive behaviour? The consequences?
8. Mikail, the growing obsession, spying on his son and daughter? The discussions? His wife and her criticism? The effect on his work? His decision to give up his work? The interactions with Milo, the harshness?
9. The title of the film – and the judgment on the behaviour of Milo, his sister? The bad family being influenced by the stern father?
