Returning Home

Fredrik and Oskar are anxious because this is the day their father, Einar, has returned to rural Norway, fresh from a tour with the national army in Afghanistan. Almost immediately Einar criticizes Fredrik’s earring and calls attention to his seemingly rebellious attitude. He also seems to resent his older son’s reluctance to follow in his military footsteps. One day Einar vanishes in the frigid Norwegian wilderness, once again abandoning his two sons. Fredrik and Oskar set out to find him, embarking on a harrowing journey through picturesque mountains and fields. The further they move from civilization, the more their isolation grows. They follow a trail of clues left by their father until it becomes evident the brothers are being tested to use their wits to survive. Striking cinematography and deliberate direction highlight RETURNING HOME, a sentimental story about the after-effects of war and the bond between father and sons. (In Norwegian with subtitles) –C.P.