Applause

Danish leading lady, Steen, impresses in this intimate portrait of a recovering alcoholic mother, fighting her addiction and ex-husband to re-gain custody of her kids. The film remains undecided about this near intolerable character; managing to show moments of redemptive maternal instinct before she binges once again on the aggressive manipulation of all those around her. The film is slow, subtle and steeped in Northern European sterility. Watching its progression towards an apparently hopeless destination does manage take you close to a point of empathy, and for that, this uncompromising work should be applauded.