For Ellen

Joby plays in a band and is totally dedicated to his art. But his musical ambitions, as well as his private life, are on the point of collapse. He’s in the midst of divorce proceedings when he learns that his incompetent lawyer has failed to ensure him legal access to his beloved daughter Ellen. Distraught, Joby puts up a furious fight for the little girl – though it may already be too late. This visceral film has the courage to place at its centre a basically unlikeable outsider. His motivation, however, is so genuine that we cannot help but side with him, at least on a rational level. This muted but uncomfortably up-close portrait of the hero makes for an exceptionally intense cinematic experience. Instead of unambiguous solutions, the film aims to capture particular moods as we see the protagonist veering between indecision and obsessive single-mindedness. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)