Superposition (2023)

Superposition (2023)

Superposition movie storyline. The creative couple Stine and Teit and their young son Nemo leave their urban life in Copenhagen behind in favour of an isolated forest in Sweden, where they hope to find themselves as individuals while documenting their new lifestyle in an ongoing podcast series. Regretfully, they realise there’s another couple across the lake, which is surprisingly alike themselves.

Soon, old grudges and selfish desires begin to take over, forcing them to confront their own egos. The psychological thriller deals with the fundamental split between self realisation and being present in life. Most of us have immense ambitions for our lives and self-expression, as well as for our happiness and our partner. SUPERPOSITION sheds a light on the modern day relationship and investigates whether we are in fact too self-absorbed to be together.

Superposition (2023) - Marie Bach Hanse
Superposition (2023) – Marie Bach Hanse

Film Review for Superposition

aroline 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 Movie Poster (2023)

Superposition (2023)

Directed by: Karoline Lyngbye
Starring: Marie Bach Hanse, nMikkel Boe Følsgaard, Mihlo Olsen
Screenplay by: Karoline Lyngbye, Mikkel Bak Sørensen
Production Design by: Silje Aune Dammen
Cinematography by: Sine Vadstrup Brooker
Film Editing by: Jakob Juul Toldam
Art Direction by: Naomi Jo Ash-Collins
Music by: Pessi Levanto
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Scandinavian Film Distribution
Release Date: May 12, 2023

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