Copenhagen, 17 December 2024 – Frelle Petersen, the acclaimed director known for his visionary yet deeply naturalistic approach to storytelling, behind the critically acclaimed and the award-winning UNCLE and FOREVER, is set to captivate audiences once again with his latest project, HOME SWEET HOME. Produced by the renowned Zentropa, the film has been officially selected for the prestigious Panorama section at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival— one of the most highly anticipated cinematic events of the year.
A Touching Portrait of Care
HOME SWEET HOME follows the story of 32-year-old Sofie, a divorced mother determined to start anew. She takes a job as a home care aide in a rural Southern Jutland community in Denmark, where she lives with her 10-year-old daughter, Clara.
Sofie quickly forms strong bonds with the elderly residents she cares for and her coworkers, finding fulfillment in making a difference. However, she soon becomes acutely aware of the immense pressures faced by home care workers. When Sofie is confronted with an unjustified complaint from a relative of one of the elderly residents, it triggers a series of challenges that put her commitment to both her work and her role as a mother to the ultimate test.
The screenplay is grounded in meticulous research with director Frelle Petersen spending time alongside home care aides and elderly citizens in their homes. This firsthand experience gave him invaluable insights of the demanding routines and the emotional complexities of providing caregiving to elderly.
“For me, research is crucial in creating an authentic story. The film is inspired by reality and the small and large human dilemmas that I encountered and experienced firsthand,” says Petersen.
“Sofie is one of life’s everyday heroes, passionate about making a difference in her work. I became curious about how we as humans respond when constantly under pressure – both at work and in our personal lives. How we want to be there for the people we care about, but are often challenged when our energy runs out,” Petersen adds.
A Southern Jutland Ensemble
The lead role of Sofie is played by Jette Søndergaard, who also starred in Petersen’s previous films, UNCLE (2019) winner of Tokyo’s Grand Prix and FOREVER (2022), which premiered in competition in San Sebastian. The cast also includes many new faces, most of whom were cast in and around the little Danish town Tønder, where the filming took place. Like the previous two features, the film is again deeply rooted in the lives of ordinary people living in Southern Jutland, Denmark.
HOME SWEET HOME is written and directed by Frelle Petersen and produced by Jonas Bagger for Zentropa Entertainments3 with support from the Danish Film Institute by commissioning editor Kalle Bjerkø, Den Vestdanske Filmpulje and Tønder Kommune in cooperation with TV 2 Denmark. Developed with the support from Creative Europe MEDIA of the European Union. Domestic distribution by Nordisk Film Distribution. International sales handled by TrustNordisk.
The 75th Berlin International Film Festival runs from February 13–23, 2025.
The film is set to premiere in local cinemas on June 19, 2025.
For more information, please contact Marketing Manager Stela Zelic at Trustnordisk: stela@trustnordisk.com