andy_n_johansen
Just saw this dutch doc at the Docpoint Film Festival in Helsinki. I was amazed at the great material the documentary makers managed to get for this. Basically the documentary is about Viggo, and two of his sisters, who in their own way confront issues from their past as they grew up with a father who sexually abused them. The mother died when Viggo was a child and at some point the incest-relations started happening. Viggo has been a criminal most of his adult life, but is trying to put all that behind him and pursue a course in psychotherapy plus have a good relationship with his sisters.There are some weak point about the documentary though. It seems to be heading off in too many directions. At one point it is mentioned that the family consisted of 6 children, and it is often mentioned that an older brother also joined in the abusive part. But Besides Viggo and his two sisters we don't hear anything about the last two siblings, and it is never mentioned whether older brother Tjeerd is dead or he just didn't want to participate in the documentary. It is also mentioned that the father got a medal from the danish resistance movement during WW2, plus there are several songs throughout the documentary in danish language, but it is never mentioned whether or not the family actually had any ties with Denmark. Plus the doc seems to change its focus quite often, leaving viewers wondering for more. But overall still a very interesting film, the best parts being the honesty and openness from Viggo and his sisters when the camera is on. There is also impressive 8mm archive footage, as their father filmed quite a lot and it goes well into the telling of the story. But a more tight and selected narrative from the documentarists would have suited it.
