Karoline Lyngbye has come out swinging with her debut feature film, Superposition. The film, which received its UK premiere at FrightFest Halloween, is an intimate study of a relationship in crisis. In the wake of an affair, writer Stein (Marie Bach Hansen), her husband Teit (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), and their young son Nemo (Mihlo Olsen), relocate to the woods. Their aim is for a reconciliation of their marriage away from prying eyes. The reality however, is trickier. Although Teit acts remorseful for his actions, he continually plays the victim, and whilst Stein puts on a brave face, she is clearly not quite ready to forgive and forget. Their marital woes soon take a backseat after Nemo disappears briefly in the woods. Upon his return, he is adamant that Stein and Teit are not his parents, and the plot thickens.
Superposition is a film that has a very clever idea and reveal, but it is one that will feel familiar to well-versed genre fans. That some in the audience will realise its direction sooner than others does not dilute any of its magic; Superposition is not all about its revelation. Instead, Lyngbye and co-writer Mikkel Bak Sørensen are far more concerned with digging into the dynamic between Stein and Teit, their story allowing for multiple analyses to occur in tandem. The issues and themes explored are universal to all couples in some respect and Lyngbye touches on some very interesting concepts.
As well as deconstructing relationships and highlighting the toxicity that can be dwelling within them, Lyngbye also shines a spotlight on parenting. Early screens with the family unit together appear idyllic. The trio roam the woodland, laugh together, and have fun, exhibiting the perfect family image. Day-to-day life is harder, and a sequence in which Stein is trying to get some work done whilst attending to her young son, will have any parent who has had to juggle a similar scenario, see themselves mirrored on screen. The scene nails the complicated feelings of being a parent – in this case a mother – who loves her son, but is also keen to maintain a semblance of her own independence and identity. Some will read Stein as cold during this moment, but she is instead an accurate portrayal of the tired work-from-home parent who is never granted respite.
The isolated location feeds into the seclusion of the narrative, and when coupled with a cast of only three, Superposition becomes a very intimate movie. The themes explored intensify this and at several points the viewer feels as though they might be intruding in Stein and Teit’s personal business. The performances from the cast are exceptional, with both Marie Bach Hansen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard allowed to demonstrate the many facets of their acting talents. The pair work beautifully together in every possible configuration and it is their connection that ensures that Superposition holds together as well as it does.
An intimate study into the deconstruction of a marriage, Superposition infuses its heavy emotional drama with a fun tendril of science-fiction, that whilst obvious to some, does not detract from the well-executed story at its heart. A stunning and heartbreaking debut, Superposition raises a lot of intriguing questions about parenthood, relationships, and how far you would go to hold your life together.
Superposition
Summary
Heart-achingly intimate, with her feature debut, Karoline Lyngby has created a wickedly morose portrait of one family’s determination to heal no matter what.
Superposition was reviewed at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest Halloween 2023.
