Reel Pride Film Festival

Tower Theatre :: 8:00pm :: Thursday, September 17

Patrik Age 1.5

  • $10.00
    • online closed. tickets available at box office
  • Director: Ella Lemhagen
  • 2008, Sweden, 103min
    In Swedish with English Subtitles

Winner, Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Frameline Film Festival 2009
On an idyllic street in a colorful neighborhood, Göran and Sven seem to want the same thing as their hetero-normative neighbors: leisurely afternoons at block parties, raising a family, creating a beautiful garden. But the flowers won’t grow, the neighborhood kids yell “homo” at them, and Sven, prone to drinking, smoking, and outbursts, is wary of their pending adoption, having already failed once as a father and husband.

This beautifully shot feature by Ella Lemhagen is a heartwarming drama — dark in parts, sweet in others — but always extremely genuine. Nominated for two acting awards at the prestigious Guldbagge Awards in its native Sweden, ‘Patrik, Age 1.5’ glides to excellence on the backs of the main actors — who deftly earn our empathy at times and derision at others — but always perform smoothly and sensitively. Marek Wieser’s bright cinematography puts the final touch on this crowd pleaser.
— Alexis Whitham, Frameline

When news of a 1.5-year-old baby boy Patrik arrives, Goran is bubbling with anticipation, and Sven even seems eager to welcome their adopted child into their home. Unfortunately, a typographical error has been made, and, instead of an infant, an embittered homophobic 15-year-old juvenile delinquent arrives on their tranquil street. The new gays on the block struggle to make it work as Goran reaches out, Sven’s trepidation escalates, and Patrik flat-out refuses to live with his new parents. As the tug of war between three very human and flawed personalities begins, an intriguing yet subtle series of events plays out, and it’s not apparent who is going to win the battle.

Men's and Women's Night Out Party Immediately Following "Patrik Age 1.5" at the North Tower Circle.