APART

APART is a film that explores various themes on multiple levels. At its surface, the film portrays the relationship between the adoptive mother, Ingela, and her adopted son, Jakob, who has become a right-wing extremist. However, on a deeper level, the film aims to delve into the idea of identity.
There's a paradoxical element within the story: despite being adopted from another country himself, Jakob vehemently opposes immigrants, thereby either unconsciously denying his own origins or having forgotten his roots. This psychological aspect adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.
Additionally, the film aims to examine how an adoptive mother might react upon discovering that her adopted son has become someone very different from what she had hoped for. It explores the emotions she experiences and the decisions she makes in such a situation.
Despite the escalating political debate involving different characters, the film is not intended to be political. Instead, our aim is to allow the audience to delve into the emotional worlds of the characters, who use strong rhetorical language as a shield to protect their status and their fragile sense of self. In reality, there is a lack of communication. This is another paradoxical aspect that gives an additional dimension to the film.
Moreover, an intriguing aspect we want to portray is the diverse reactions people have to news reported on TV or in newspapers, and how challenging it is in today's world to be critical and discern what is true or not.
The idea of a debate taking place around a dinner table within a Swedish family context was very interesting to experiment with. In Sweden, as in many other countries, political discussions are often avoided—it's almost taboo. In contrast, in Italy, my home country, political conversations can occur at home, and people aren't hesitant to engage in them. Therefore, it was exciting for us to explore how Swedish individuals might approach such an inevitable political debate.