Christmas time is family time. The children arrive. Doors open. Doors close. For Ella and Lasse’s daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, the annual family gathering at their grandparents’ house is an obligatory event and a well-established ritual. Outside, they are surrounded by a winter wonderland. Inside, disinterest, grievances and simmering tensions set the tone. Every movement, every role is meticulously rehearsed. »You’re already on the bottle? It’s not even 11 o’clock!« Lasse drinks so much he can barely hold a spoon. Ella bravely tries to maintain a semblance of cheerfulness. The daughters long for deeper connections but squabble about trivial things.

This sharply observed family study is both profoundly sad and hilariously funny; respectful but not afraid to delve into the darker sides of family relationships. In a sequence of calm shots captured by a fixed camera, the audience becomes immersed in this family scene. Shots through doorways and window frames explore the rooms, expose glances and gestures and define the line between familiarity and escalation. Language plays a secondary role. While the first part of the film dissects family structures, the second focuses on the dynamics between the couples. We get to know the protagonists once again, before they part ways after the holidays and return to their everyday lives. Family Time is a humorous and astute analysis of the complexities of family life and intergenerational patterns that will be very familiar to many.

Guest: Tia Kouvo