This is a Dutch German co production presented in Dutch with an original title of "Boven is het stil". It is about Helmer who is a farmer who lives with his bedridden father. He looks after the farm and the old man with a kind of determined grimace. He seems to shun anything that would make him happy- having created a world for himself where may as well be totally alone.
Then he hires a young helper in the shape of Henk (Martijn Lakemeier – 'the young boy from 'Winter in Wartime'). This seems to bring a change and as well as looking after the farm he starts to think about himself and awakens feelings he is forgetting to suppress.
Now it is hard to say very much about this without spoiling the plot or making it appear to be a bit dull. This is not for action fans or those who like everything spelled out. There are a lot of silences here with little actually happening. This I felt highlighted the lack lustre existence and the loss of opportunity that Helmer is going through. Some would call this 'lyrically paced'; but it does have its moments and it has a brooding quality that made me want to watch it to the end. And I must say I am glad I did, this is one for people who like their films to sometimes be a bit different.
