The screenplay follows the titular Horia, a cautious teenager living in a Romanian village, who is pining for his crush who lives on the other side of the country. After a fight with his father, Horia leaves home on his dad’s motorbike and, soon after, meets street-smart 13-year-old Stela, who is running away from her family. She may be younger than Horia, but she is definitely...
Ewan McGregor impresses in Niclas Larsson's star-studded psychological indie drama based on Jerker Virdborg's novella.
Three siblings converge in a furniture store in the middle of nowhere. Here, their mother, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn, has barricaded herself on a couch. David (McGregor) does his best to diplomatically try to resolve the situation, but the other siblings (Rhys Ifans, Laura Flynn Boyle) seem to take the situation with frustrating nonchalance. And while the mother's stationary position on the couch brings forth Norenesque family conflicts to the surface, the furniture store appears increasingly labyrinthine, and David is chased through a never-ending Kubrickian nightmare with a desperate look in his eyes. Swedish director Niclas Larsson (Vatten, GFF 2013) returns to Gothenburg after a period in international advertising with a charged psychological drama that not only impresses with its star-studded cast.
Dongnan, a 58-year-old long-time employee at a restaurant, is known for his "Chao Geng" (slacking off) tactics. Despite working for many years, his career has stagnated due to his unreliability and arrogance, leading to his demotion as a security guard. At home, he frequently argues with his wife and is neglected by his family. Dongnan has always dreamed of becoming his own boss, and with the help of his friend, Douyin Jie, he manages to open a restaurant and achieves initial success. However, his family problems persist. On a friend's advice, Dongnan buys an AI robot to ease household pressures. The robot not only takes care of chores but also helps mediate between him and his wife, leading to some improvement in his family life. However, within the restaurant, Dongnan's apprentice, Steven, betrays him by stealing his secret recipes and using AI technology to frame Dongnan. Through a series of events, including intense competition with his apprentice Steven and a family crisis, Dongnan learns the importance of hard work, honesty, and forgiveness. In the end, Dongnan re-evaluates his marriage and, with the help of friends, reconciles with his wife.
