Applause

Emerging from rehab because of her alcoholism, actress Thea Barfoed (Paprika Steen of “The Substitute” – 32nd CIFF) has a lot to deal with in APPLAUSE. Having divorced her husband Christian and relinquished custody of her children during her heavy drinking days, Thea wants to start over. The promise of this new beginning seems bleak, given that her past of drinking and violence haunts her still, making the likelihood of a fresh start seem impossible. What she wants most of all is to get her children back, but Christian and his new wife are skeptical. Between her family problems and her demanding stage career, the pressure is intense. Ultimately, Thea must resolve the ghosts of her past in order to realize the dream of being a mother to her sons again. She must prove that, despite her history, she is capable of change. Her manipulative charisma endures as she persuades Christian to give her another chance. While her new found sobriety hangs in the balance, Thea must confront her inner turmoil to meet her goal. (In Danish with subtitles) – B.K.