Based on writer-director Maria Sødahl’s own experiences, “Hope” is the emotionally raw story about a couple recommitting to each other under nightmare circumstances. Anja (Andrea Bræin Hovig) and Tomas (Stellan Skarsgård) have been together many years but — between their intense dedication to their respective careers, the stress of caring for a large blended family, and garden-variety domestic monotony — have grown apart. They share a home and a bed, but don’t really show up for each other anymore. That changes when Anja receives a terminal cancer diagnosis shortly before Christmas.
This may sound like a one-note tearjerker of a premise, but “Hope” is too smart and complex a film to succumb to tragedy porn. Instead, it is interested in the logistics that accompany a diagnosis like Anja’s (the dozens of doctors appointments, second opinions, and phone calls), the psychic toll such a situation takes on the patient and her loved ones, and the realities of a long-term relationship.
What impressed me most about Sødahl’s movie is its refusal to turn Anja into a saintly cancer martyr. On the contrary, she is quite cruel in the aftermath of the bad news, lashing out at her partner and venting decades’ worth of resentments and disappointments. She is, to use Tomas’ phrase, “ruthless” in her fear and rage — depicting her as such is a testament to the film’s honesty and courage.
Likewise, the love story in “Hope” isn’t one you see too often on-screen — at least not in Hollywood films — and that makes it all the more moving. Tomas’ world is also upended by Anja’s diagnosis, but you can see him consciously decide to put his own needs aside and focus on his partner. He accompanies her to her appointments, listens to her grievances without getting overly defensive, and respects her wishes regarding her health care. Simply put, he is there for her when she needs him. And she responds in kind. I can’t think of anything more romantic.
A drama that honors the big and small moments of a shared life — from devastating news to boisterous holiday celebrations to conversations about a teen daughter’s behavior — “Hope” is likely to resonate with anyone who has gone through a family crisis. (It’s no wonder Nicole Kidman is adapting it for television.) Although it depicts the darkest days of a couple’s life together, the film is ultimately about why, in spite of all the hardship, devoting yourself to the person you love is worth it.
“Hope” is now in theaters and virtual cinemas. Find screening info here.
