The feature debut of Swedish filmmaker Magnus von Horn (his 2011 short Without Snow was nominated for the Swedish Guldbagge Award), The Here After screened to acclaim in the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes 2015.
Shot on film by Ida cinematographer Lucasz Zal, it’s a taut, chilly and morally complex drama following John, a teenager who’s released from youth detention to his father; but finds it difficult to rebuild his life as he’s still ostracised by his classmates and the wider community for his crime.
Drip-feeding information to the audience, von Horn slowly ratchets up the tension to give us a rewarding emotional payoff; aided by powerful performances – particularly from Ulrik Munther as the inscrutable, traumatised John – and rigorously controlled direction, making The Here After a sophisticated debut from a filmmaker to watch.