Youssef (44), a former soldier whose mental health has been worn thin by years of war, has moved away from his wife and son because of his uncontrollable temper. At a veterans’ refuge on the Danish island of Strynø, he is thrown into a soul-searching journey as he struggles to rebuild his shattered life.
Youssef slowly begins to accept his vulnerability as he connects with other veterans and dedicates himself to therapy. As he improves, he becomes fully committed to winning back his family and returning to the man he once was. But mending the bonds proves difficult as he returns home and then realises that he can never fully recover and has damaged his loved ones for good. Now his hopes for the future are splintered. All he has left is the military brotherhood and suddenly going back to war seems like a last resort. But is he ready to fully let go of his son?
by Christian Bonke
cowritten with Marianne Lentz
LIM | Less is More 2023
Production
by Amalie Lyngbo Quist / Beo Starling (Denmark)
Distribution
Scanbox
Selections
World premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2025
Odense International Film Festival 2026
Awards
Best Feature and the International Critics’ Award during its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2025
Best First Film at the Offspring Film Festival – Odense International Film Festival 2026
International sales
REinvent International Sales (Denmark)