Patrik, Age 1.5 [Review]

The adoption process is difficult for everyone who decides to undertake it. The longing to start a family. The waiting for a call. The anticipation of what will your baby/child look like. The reviewing of paperwork. The integration of a child into your live(s). All these ideas are expounded upon and develop into a heartfelt story about a family to be. The conflict rises out of the fact the couple looking to adopt are gay and the "child" they were given is a 15 year old homophobic delinquent. The other conflict for me is that they spoke Swedish. Small in comparison to the movie as a whole, but still I cherished the subtitles all the more.

Directed by Ella Lemhagen, and staring Gustaf Sarsgard, Torkel Petersson, and Tom Ljungman(Swedish names if ever I heard any), we are thrown into the happy life trying to be built in the Swedish suburbs. The picturesque white picket fence and the quaint dwellings with manicured lawns aren't just the American dream. After dealing with some minor harassment from adoption officials they are told they have no babies for them to adopt and are sent away dejected. However, they later receive a letter saying that there is one boy who can be adopted: Patrik, Age 1.5. Ecstatic, they finish preparations to his room and await their would be son. In walks Patrik, a juvenile delinquent whose last choice is live with "homos" (even if he has to live on the streets) It is later revealed that a typographical error occurred (1.5 rather than 15- just incase you couldn't figure that out), by this point the couple have reluctantly welcomed the boy into their home, after removing all the knives, and having put considerable strain on their relationship.

The characters are brilliantly acted and are relatable as well as "real". That is, you feel for them and develop certain expectations and are put through an emotional roller coaster of sorts before being given some form of resolution. It is also the type of film that makes you examine your own personal opinions on life issues such as homosexuality and adoption. The only distraction for me was the choice in set design/decoration. The walls were covered in wallpaper with a busy pattern. It showed up on film and made me want to look at it rather that the actors and the Swedish subtitles being shown at the bottom of the page. Maybe busy wallpaper is big in gay Swedish households, who knows?

Likewise distracting were a few scenes that seemed like they were occurring in front of a green screen. This was true with the "jogging" scenes. The actor(s) jogging appeared very boldly colored compared to his background but as he ran I think it became more aware it was a lighting/costume choice.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this movie (though, I wished they could have dubbed some English speaking actors voices). My attention was diverted a lot since I had to read the subtitles, but it became more effortless, I suppose, as the movies continued. I would give this film 4.5 stars out of 5. No, I'm not homophobic, I am just lazy and didn't feel like reading during a movie. :)