Review- The Blessing[Velsignelse]

The Blessing[Velsignelse]

Denmark, 35mm, 75 minutes

Dir: Heidi Maria Faisst

Theme

Motherhood

Review

I feel, the movie juxtaposes two mother-daughter relationships to put across the theme.

While Katrina, in her becoming a mother, finds herself ruined, Katrina’s mother Lise cannot digest the fact that her daughter did not ask her to visit while she was in labour.

Both the daughters need their mothers, but Rosa can’t get hers while Lise supports Katrine as much as she can. Lise is ready ti take care of Katrine’s child when she realizes Katrine can’t.

We see how Katrine cannot come to terms with her new identity or role of a mother. When she looks at herself in the mirror, she finds herself responding with disappointment and surprise at her changed physical appearance.

While talking to her relatives about the delivery, Katrine compares it to the pain of  a “gallstone” being removed from her body. She appears uncomfortable with holding or breast-feeding the child. She even goes on to ask Lise “Can you feel that you love me?” indicating that she can’t feel the same for Rosa.

We see an inner struggle that Katrine goes through in coming to terms with motherhood and her journey through a tough time accepting truth. She decides to run, escape and hide but nothing works till she finally tries herself to work towards building a closer relationship to the child.

Lighting

A lot of scenes involving Rosa and Katrine, in the bedroom are shot with a red tinge on Katrine’s face. Even when Lise and Katrine are in the same room, a paler shade falls on Lise’s face while Katrine’s still seen in the reddish light. This might heighten the mental conflict and anger-like state her mind is in.

The pattern on the wall, often appear like cracks and seem to emphasize Katrine’s frustration.

Camera

The camera appears to be like an intruder watching the moves of the characters . There were noticeable shakes in the camera and an unnatural movement of zooming is used in places.

Narrator

An omniscient, intruder-like narrator.

The Role of the Husband/Boyfriend

As opposed to the conventional idea of the man being more inconsiderate, Andrea, Katrine’s boyfriend and Rosa’s father is extremely supportive, sometimes to fantastical levels.

Not only is he caring, but when Katrine leaves him and the child, he goes in search of her. He makes sure till the end that he sticks by her and takes care of her and the child.

I see a reversal of roles here, with fatherhood rising to a greater level than motherhood.

Pace

The movie was well paced, short, had no flash-backs or fast forwards.