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For Min Brors Skyld (Danish) [For My Brother]

First thing first. This is not at all an easy film to watch. I have never wanted to turn off a film because it made me uncomfortable. This film does that to you. It's uncomfortable, revolting and its depressing. I have a seen a couple of incestual and also pedophilic behavior films, but the kind of discomfort and traumatic representation this film does, you should be prepared for what is to come and a lot of scenes WILL be hard to watch.

Aske and his brother Bastian are very young. We soon see that their father doesn't mind pimping his 11 year old son to his friend Hans for some money, which leads us to believe that the father himself has been abusing the child bot physically and sexually. When the mother finds out, she ends up in an accident and dies, leaving the 2 brothers at the mercy of their father. Five years pass and we see that the father is a drunk man still verbally and physically abusing the kids. Aske makes sure he takes as much care for his little brother Bastian as he can. Their father forces Aske to star in pedophilic home made porn videos where he is forced to have sex with paying strangers. Aske does whatever his father tells him to since there is the lingering threat of Bastian having to replace him if he doesn’t perform well. Of course this affects Aske's social life where even his best friend fails to understand Aske's behavior. One night when Aske goes for a party on insistence by his friend, their father ends up abusing Bastian. This is when Aske tells his friend what has been happening with them and he helps them escape to their cabin in Norway. Sadly, Aske's misery doesn't just end here. Their father manages to escape their home after killing Aske's best friend and finds where the boys are and ends up killing Bastian before killing himself.

As I mentioned before, this film is not an easy watch. The film is shot which feels like a hand held camera which is very distracting and shaky initially but you eventually get used to it. Not sure if this was due to budget (I doubt it) or more of a conscious choice because giving it a "home video" feel makes it even more creepy, tragic and utmost uncomfortable to watch. The abuse scenes, both sexual and physical, are not easy to watch at all. They feel very very real and huge props need to be given to all actors and the director to portray their roles so well. I hope they conducted proper workshops before filiming this film because a subject like this can scar you mentally for life. As audience, you are not sure why Aske is not leaving home or retaliating, but you realize that years of mental, and physical abuse, telling the kids that they are good for nothing take away all the power and energy that they have for themselves. In their mind, he is still their father and he probably has the right to do whatever with them that he wants to do. I was hoping that there maybe a positive ending and a ray of hope for Aske and his brother having endured so much pain, but instead we see just how hopeless, never ending, horrific the sexual abuse of children really is. The film is grin through and through. The only signs of hope you see are when the two brothers are together and how Aske's aim in life is to protect his brother at any cost and for him to not go through the hell that he has been going on as a kid. Some scenes in the film were unnecessary and could have been avoided but I guess the idea was to show the extent to which some pedophiles will go. I want to praise the actors and the maker for making something so real that you really hate the character and you feel for the young boys. You want to protect them, but as I write this, I am going through all kinds of emotions.

It is admirable that a film is trying to show an honest, raw depiction of child abuse, but this is nota kind of film I will go around recommending. I am glad I saw it, but it is a very very very uncomfortable watch and I have never ever been so affected by a film so much that I affected by sleep and pysche. It id a brutal and a powerful film. It will take me a few days to detach myself from this one. Read this and decide on your own if you have the stomach to watch this. (8/10)

Comments

Hedgehog said…
I’m sorry for what you feeling after watching this film. The same goes to me after watching this. Up until now I’m depressed about it. This is indeed a hard film to watch I was amazed by how good the acting is and the message of the film. There’s some questionable decision that make no sense. Like why didn’t they report right away to the police what happen and his friend not knowing he’s left his phone in the house. The mom the suspects that the man in the beginning has malicious intent in her son and insisted that there’s no room in the car. Maybe the writer wants to go dramatic ending I dont know. But I can’t watch it again. Great film though.
Golu said…
There is absolutely no way that anyone can watch this film a second time. I didn't think the mom initially had any idea, but now that you mention it, the way she reacts when she comes back does give an idesa that maybe she had a feeling. and some other asdpects also. But I guess the makers were going full on for the film, so it had to go the way it did.

ONe scene that grossed me out was when the father and his friend travel to another town to meet a 11 and 12 year old. That was disgusting and absolutely not needed.
Hedgehog said…
I agreed that scene was wtf. Maybe they want to put emphasis on how vile creatures these mudafuckers are.

The scene where the father hit bastian over spilled food and aske cant do anything about it. I really felt bad for them. Aske is a really loving brother, love how he comforts him and wanted to protect him at all cost even if it cause him being a sex slave by his own father.

Truth to be told, after watching these I’ve look for a gay comedy film to lighten the mood and end up watching "Another gay movie" I’m not really fan of this kind of movie. But it helps a lit bit.
Golu said…
I hear you man. My goto comedy to lighten up my mood is "Schitt's Creek" on netflix. I am absolutely crazy about that show.
Hedgehog said…
If you’re looking for a Filipino comedy gay film, I do recommend "Remington and the curse of the Zombadings" that’s one of my favorite Filipino gay film.
Golu said…
Ill look out for this one

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