Let Go

If you like character driven films this is perfect for you. You see the camera close in on the husband or wife's face and you know what they're thinking. This is a truly natural film about the problems of living with someone you love(d) amidst the stresses and repetitive strains on daily life. Throw indulged and petulant children into the mix, expecting to have their many needs met whatever the cost on their parents' time or patience, then you see the perfect unravelling of a couple and watch their interaction with each other develop.

The actress playing the wife is the most incredibly talented person. She also directed and wrote the film and gives a dazzling performance. This is a beautiful film. 10/10.

But so much more. I prefer foreign films, so was drawn to this recommendation on NFLX. It started out as what I thought a peek into a neglected marriage, obviously because the husband was having an affair. With precision reveals, it becomes clearer what could be happening in this family's lives. So well written and executed by the writer, director and lead actress who is one and same person! Without giving away too much, this is a deep, authentic, visceral story that will stay with you long after viewing, as others have written here in the reviews. Why this isn't on everyone's radar as a MUST WATCH, is beyond me.

Swedish director and actress Josephine Bornebusch offers us a raw family drama that touches our deepest fibers with a conventional film, but made with all possible sincerity.

The film takes us to an intense family drama in crisis and that little by little will be rediscovered in a harsh truth that changes all the perspectives of each member of this family. The director sets out to give us a sincere drama without limiting herself in any way, destroying relationships, destroying worlds and destroying realities, all of that handled with the subtlety of a very good director who also stars in her own script, which leads us to feel with all the intensity this drama that she offers us.

It is helped by a cast that is also committed, where Pål Sverre Hagen and Sigrid Johnson stand out. Each character has something to tell and something to face their own fears and regrets with, that intensity put into each scene is what captivates us as spectators and at the same time its director is intelligent in not risking anything improper, Bornebusch touches the conventional keys of how to conquer the spectator, but she does it in an authentic way and without looking for anything easy, she does it with a correct look at an intense drama that breaks you as it reaches its final climax where you sense that everything will break definitively.

We are faced with a sad, moving and deeply heartbreaking story that hides nothing and gives you a true story that keeps coming back to you as everything happens. The moments of happiness, especially well placed thanks to intelligent humor, are part of the dose of relief from a deep drama full of sadness and everything that allows you to experience a process of emotions and tears that break the deepest heart of any viewer.

A brave film that, in its well-used conventionality, manages to hit the nail on the head as one of the pleasant and saddest dramas of 2024. Its director continues to demonstrate her directing skills, but also her good work in front of the screen, an interesting proposal that is worth giving a chance to move you and enjoy life's blows.

Josephine Bornebusch's Släpp taget excels in its deeply heartfelt depiction of familial complexities. With nuanced performances and authentic emotional beats, it draws viewers into the struggles and joys of reconnecting with loved ones. The film's sensitive approach to parenthood, sibling relationships, and personal growth leaves an indelible impact, often bringing audiences to tears.

However, the film ambitiously tackles an array of themes, occasionally risking a lack of focus. This narrative sprawl can slightly dilute its otherwise powerful storytelling. Still, Släpp taget resonates through its honesty and compelling portrayal of human connections, making it a poignant cinematic experience. A rare gem that captures the heart, even if it reaches for too much.

Great acting by the cast. Great writing. Great dialogue. There are a couple of unforgettable scenes that made my day.

This film gives the viewer a realistic glimpse of what can happen inside a marriage--the challenges, the frustration, the disappointments that the couple have to contend with as they try to make the marriage work as they raise a family. The viewer easily sees himself/herself in those scenes and relate with the characters intimately in a vicarious way.

It seems primarily the story of the male lead as he grapples with the demands of being married and raising a family, and realizing he hasn't done much for the marriage and family. And the realization hits him hard.

Such a situation happens to many of us. And the male viewer develops some kind of kinship with him.

This Swedish film deserves your time and attention.