Aberdeen (2000)

Kaisa (Lena Headey) is a drug-addicted independent woman with parental issues. She get a call from her mother (Charlotte Rampling) dying of cancer to bring her father (Stellan Skarsgård) from Norway to Aberdeen. It's been 15 years since they separated. He's a drunk and she resents him. It turns out that her mother called a few weeks ago to propose to him. His drunkenness and her anger get them banned from the airline. They go on a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness. On the way, they are befriended by trucker Clive (Ian Hart).These are two wonderful actors in two compelling roles. They are doing some power-acting in this stripped down road-trip movie. There are some funny moments and some poignant moments. Mostly, these great actors are simply inhabiting these roles.

I looked up this movie after falling under the spell of Lena Headey's acting (I'm not ashamed saying it, apparently it's a very common phenomenon).I have to say it's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Stelan Skarsgard is disturbingly natural in his role of drunken piece of s...t , and Lena does a great job impersonating his screwed up daughter.The storyline is nothing out of the ordinary, but what touches you is the cruel reality exposed before your eyes. I still don't understand how, by putting two very flawed characters together and by showing them living their ugly and sometimes disgusting life, you can end up with such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. I can't believe this movie is practically unknown! Lena is right to be proud of it. Hats off for her performance!

one of the summaries about this film states that "Every Alcoholic should see this one". wow! seems just a bit too "American Dream". first of all it is European and as my great anthropology professor said to me once: "i've never met an European that was NOT an alcoholic", but not by the objective standards! perhaps i could add, in a state of a rapid emotion and not reason (for i'm European and probably i'm already drunk), that i've never met an American that said anything smart about europeans. anyways, THIS IS NOT A Hollywood FRIENDLY FILM, or it just has very few friends in "hollywood"(try to realize what that word really means). maybe because of that the very creator still lies unknown, but should he be forgotten? a story made for people and not their imitations. i am aware that most of the viewers would rather enjoy terror of war in special effects, laughing and cheering in their joy - dude! somehow natural became abnormal to them, and it's not so entertaining anymore. a simple beauty of a woman's breast seems not proper, becomes obscene, and eventually is censored in order to protect their young ones - yes! just buy them another play station and let them educate themselves."aberdeen" is my #1 and so is Hans Petter Molland. i see in it the very human beings in their faults, sins, their downfalls as well as their resurrections - vision of, non-the-less, us (you and me). for point to me a perfect man and i will name a god after him - you can quote me on that:) enjoy

very touching movie..the acting performances are fabulous, 'aberdeen' is very realistic piece of film. almost shockingly realistic.it was great to see a movie like this for a change. i've seen so much of these music-video-goes-hollywood-goes-kungfu movies, that a movie really ABOUT SOMETHING was nice again..i can't say it would've been a perfect ten, for that you'd need much more originality. but very well done, and obviously the actors liked the directors, since they are giving their very best.