THANK YOU, I’M SORRY

Sweden, 2023, 90 minutes, Colour.

Sanna Sundqvist, Charlotta Bjorck, Amael Blomgren Alcaide, Ia Langhammer, Juan Rodriguez, Peshang Rad.

Directed by Lisa Aschan.

The title is spoken at the end of the film.

This is the story of a depressed woman, a fickle husband, her absolute devotion to her young son, now pregnant. With the unexpected death of her husband, the stepping in of her mother-in-law, coping with the death, with her son, the funeral, and some platitudes from the earnest pastor, there is a sad atmosphere.

She is alienated from her older sister who went to live with their father during their divorce, she with her mother. The father is now in care. The sister has won the lottery, has a bizarre way of life, the oddest of boyfriends who is self absorbed in an extreme “New Age” style. But, she ventures a reconciliation with her sister, is greeted by her nephew who calls her Uncle Linda, and he is also devoted to her do

Various emotional ups and downs, the birth of the child, some straight talking with her psychologist mother-in-law who tends to dominate, bonding with Linda – and, at the end, a visit from her father who speaks the lines of the title.

1. The title, spoken at the end by Sara’s father? Cinema summing up the themes of family relationships and failures?
2. The Swedish film, Swedish and Scandinavian sensibilities, characters, lifestyle, relationships? The musical score?
3. Sara’s story and the focus, looking in the mirror, the message from her husband, potentially leaving her? Her being pregnant? Discovering him dead? The consequences, the doctors, his parents arriving, the impact on her son, Elliot? Her mother-in-law ringing her sister, Linda?
4. Linda’s story, older sister, looking younger, winning the lottery, her lifestyle, in the bath, the dog, the boyfriend coming, Jasse arriving home, the flawed relationship with him, his obsessions, courses, self-improvement, focus on himself, expectations of Linda?
5. Helen and her husband, his Spanish background, devotion to her son? Psychologist? Dominant, intruding, taking charge? The bond with her grandson? The preparation for the funeral, the hymns? The visit of the pastor, kindly, but platitudes with Sara? In the church, the sermon, Sara and her reactions? The aftermath? At the house?
6. Linda, the background of the parents’ separation, with her father, Sara with their mother, the mother’s death? The father in care, selfish, losing his mental ability? Linda and her decision to go to the funeral?
7. Sara, her relationship with her son, his bright and breezy attitudes, her reticence about his father’s death, Helen and his being straightforward? The effect on the boy?
8. Linda, coming to the house, Sara wary, the tensions between the two, the gradual breaking down, Linda and her being able to play with Elliot, and the dog? Her becoming Uncle Linda?
9. Sara, the pregnancy, visits to the doctor, to build up? The presence of Helen? Wanting to move in? The mellowing with Linda, Linda moving in? The sisters beginning to understand each other? Linda and her visits to her father?
10. Linda picking up Elliot, her missing out, Sara upset, the story of their father disappearing, fighting him?
11. The buildup of the pregnancy, the birth of the daughter, the family, the new child, bonding, Elliot and his sister?
12. The visit of their father, and his apology?
13. A strong portrait of a depressed woman, her husband to disappointment, devotion to her son, pregnancy, resentment to her father, resentment of her sister? The possibilities for reconciliation?