How Gunnar Hall Jensen Found the Guts to Complete His Film About His Son After the Young Man’s Death (EXCLUSIVE)

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acclaimed Norwegian filmmaker Gunnar Hall Jensen is known for crafting humorous and eccentric self-portraits that resonate with a broad audience due to their profound insights into life. His most recent project, “Portrait of a Perplexed Father,” delved into his personal journey with his son, utilizing footage captured over two decades. However, three weeks before the production was set to conclude, he tragically learned that his son had passed away.

Hall Jensen shares with EbMaster his story of mustering the bravery to finish his movie during a time of profound sorrow for him and his loved ones. The first look at this film, set to have its global debut this Sunday at CPH:DOX, can be seen in the video that follows below.

This deeply emotional documentary chronicles a middle-aged, controlling dad’s challenging journey to bond with his rebellious teenager. It’s a tale that explores the trials and triumphs of parenting, as well as its profound love and heartache, and ultimately touches upon the theme of loss.

In this narrative, we follow Gunnar, the filmmaker and main character, as he strives to foster a bond with his unconventional son, Jonathan. Simultaneously, Gunnar grapples with his antiquated notions of masculinity. As Jonathan matures into a bold, self-assured teenager, pushing boundaries, Gunnar finds himself perplexed, much like any parent dealing with Gen Z offspring might be. However, Gunnar’s confusion is intensified due to the absence of his own father – a Caribbean cruise ship captain – during his upbringing.

After reaching eighteen, things take a turn for the worse with Jonathan. For weeks, he vanishes without a trace following his depletion of savings. Eventually, Gunnar locates him living an entirely different life in Brazil alongside a popular male social media influencer boasting over 10 million followers. Lured by the prospect of quick cash and a realm steeped in hypermasculinity, Jonathan begins to lose grip on himself. One fateful day, Gunnar receives a call that irrevocably alters his and his family’s lives: Jonathan, at age twenty-one, has met a tragic end through an attack. A phase of mourning and rebuilding ensues as Gunnar reunites with Jonathan’s mother, whom he had previously separated from.

In conversation with EbMaster, Hall Jensen shared his heartbreaking experience: “Three weeks before wrapping up filming [in November 2023], I received the devastating news that Jonathan, aged 21, had been killed. The news was shattering, and for a moment, I felt like giving up myself. It was unbearable to comprehend that Jonathan’s radiant spirit had been so brutally snatched away from us at such a young age.

Deep within me, something was shattered beyond repair. This is a feeling many parents who lose a child can relate to. Yet, surprisingly, life goes on. After the initial chaos of managing the aftermath, it became crystal clear that the movie needed to be finished, with the tragic event of my son’s death woven into the narrative. I felt this was a responsibility towards Jonathan and also towards the audience who had followed his story.

To start with, it symbolizes the challenging yet fulfilling bond shared by a son and a father.

Additionally, I found the movie to be a reflection of our current era and its risks. It’s alarmingly simple for a young person to lose their way in this complex, morally skewed world, where success and wealth are distorted ideals peddled problematically by modern mentors, coaches, and influencers on the web.

Thirdly, there’s a surplus of books and movies focusing on mother-daughter bonds, yet they are scarce the genuine narratives concerning father-son relationships.

Speaking about wrapping up the movie, Hall Jensen mentioned that sifting through his son’s footage was extremely tough for him. He described it as an experience filled with many tears and intense pain. But, he found a way to proceed with the project.

During the day, I tried to suppress my feelings as a father while reviewing the material and approached it from the perspective of a filmmaker, striving for professionalism in storytelling. In the evening, however, I’d unwind with a couple of glasses of wine, only then allowing myself to be overwhelmed by all the heartwarming memories that flooded back. It was an emotional release – a breakdown! My wife would often find me in our home office crying, powerless in the darkness, leaving her puzzled as to why I subjected myself to such emotions.

Two significant individuals played key roles in shaping Hall Jensen’s storyline and determining its appropriate tone: his long-term editor, Erlend Haarr Eriksson, and Lucie Kon, a commissioning editor from BBC Storyville who became involved with the project at an early stage through the film’s sales agent, DR Sales.

Lucy purchased a personal documentary featuring a father and son attempting to bond. Following a tragic event, I chose to adapt and expand the film, incorporating this tragedy and its origins. As Hall Jensen explains, ‘Lucie remained fully committed.’ It was challenging for me to transform the original light-hearted and artistic documentary into something more expository, but Lucie played an essential role. She assisted in removing unnecessary scenes, strengthening the narrative with a clearer explanatory approach, and delving deeply into voice-over narration. I am profoundly thankful for her contributions. Her input elevated the film to heights I could not have achieved alone.

In the script, one difficult decision was determining when to reveal the shocking news to the viewers. According to Hall Jensen, extensive discussions were held with Haarr Eriksson and Kon regarding this matter. The director presented two options: either he would gradually disclose the tragedy as the story progresses, or he would do so at the beginning. He opted for the latter choice because it was a more natural way to narrate the story, given his awareness of the tragic events, and also because it would captivate the audience’s attention. Furthermore, he decided to interject reminders of the tragedy throughout the narrative via voice-overs at strategic points. However, as the director emphasizes, the film is not a true crime story but rather focuses primarily on the relationship between a father and son, aiming to convey their attempts at connection.

Hall Jensen expresses that being a good father can be quite challenging, likening it to a tough journey. He describes his son as an incredible, powerful force in nature. He acknowledges that he doesn’t have all the answers, but he hopes that his story of father and son will touch people. Additionally, he wants to caution parents about the potential risks of the internet and emphasize the importance of keeping tabs on their children and teenagers online.

Kim Christiansen, DR Sales’ executive producer overseeing documentaries and co-productions, commends Hall Jensen’s accomplishment. “It’s astonishing how Gunnar has finished the film,” says Christiansen, “and we’re immensely proud to debut ‘Portrait of a Confused Father’ at CPH:DOX’s world premiere. Although it ends tragically, it is crucial to note that this is one of the most heartwarming father-son love stories I’ve encountered, across all genres.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the upcoming film I’m involved with is under the esteemed production house, Upnorth Film, renowned for their exceptional work in Norway. They’ve been behind some incredible films like Hall Jensen’s “Oh, It Hertz!” (CPH:DOX, 2021), Håvard Bustnes’ festival favorites such as “Phantoms of the Sierra Madre” and “Two Raging Grannies.” It’s a privilege to be part of this talented team!

As a movie enthusiast, I recently had the pleasure of watching a captivating production that left me spellbound. This cinematic masterpiece is the brainchild of Ingrid Aune Falch, Christian Aune Falch, and Torstein Parelius at UpNorth Film. The collaboration doesn’t end there; it’s also being co-produced by Valérie Montmartin and Anders Justin for France’s Little Big Story and Sweden’s Film Väsernorrland. To top it off, Kon at BBC Storyville is also involved in the production process. Jan Rofekamp and Freddy Neumann grace us as executive producers. The film promises an unforgettable journey, and I can’t wait to share more about it!

After its showings at CPH:DOX, the documentary is scheduled for a cinematic release by Norsk Filmdistribusjon in Norway in August 2025. Following this, it will air on NRK in Norway, Yle in Finland, DR in Denmark, SVT in Sweden, RTS in Switzerland, BBC in the U.K., and France Télévisions.

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2025-03-21 23:47