THE HERE AFTER

Sweden, 2015, 104 minutes, Colour.
Ulrik Munther, Mats Blomgren, Sven Ahlstrorm, Oliver Heilman, Wieslaw Komasa.
Directed by Magnus Von Horn.

The Here After his Swedish drama focusing on a young man, John.

At the opening of the film, he is released from detention, receiving some affirmation from the authorities. His father picks him up and he returns home to his town intending to take up his life again. He has an ambiguous relationship with his father, living alone.

What emerges is that the young man has killed his ex-girlfriend and the people in the town not forgiving him. When he tries to resume his life, former friends turn against him, he fails in relationships, and the effect is to build up the violent tension within again as he confronts the people of the town.

The film has a rather grim Scandinavian atmosphere about it, in the look of the bad weather, in the characters, their isolation as well is in their aggression.

1. A contemporary Swedish drama? Teenagers, their problems? Violence and consequences? Family relationships?

2. Swedish setting, the town, homes, the school, cafeteria, classrooms and sports fields, the open road? The musical score?

3. John’s story? Audience interest? Sympathies? Antipathies? In the institution, audience wondering about his crime? The farewell, his father meeting him, the car ride? His bond with his father, his brother? Settling in at home? Restless? No mother?

4. His going back to school, the reaction of the girl, of Kim, the other boys, denunciations? Bullying and threats? Violence? The principal, handling the situation, indicating to John’s father that the majority of students, with their parents’ consent, wanted John out of the school?

5. The young girl, the supermarket, her attack on John, his later going to her house, talking with her, the reconciliation, the relationship with the dead girl?

6. John, killing the girl, girl friend, the breakup, the sexual liaison with Kim? John losing his mind, the judgement in the court – but his saying he remembered everything?

7. Growing effect on John, the girlfriend finding him difficult? Kim and his father? Kim and the violent attack? John going into the cafeteria, bloodied, to the principal?

8. No mention of John’s mother, life at home, meals, discipline, television watching? The father and his trying to cope?

9. The ultimate effect on John, on his bike, riding on the road – to what future?