Patrik 1,5
Encyclopedia
Patrik, Age 1.5 is a 2008 Swedish comedy–drama film
in which a gay Swedish couple adopt what they at first believe to be a baby, Patrik, only to have him turn out to be a homophobic
teenager.
) and Göran Skoogh (Gustaf Skarsgård
) as they move into a new suburban neighborhood and adopt a child, beginning with their welcoming party. After meeting their new neighbors and settling into their jobs, they decide to adopt
a child. Although they are married, no country is willing to let a gay couple adopt any of its children. After initially being turned down by the adoption, a Swedish orphan becomes available, which they readily agree to adopt. However, a typographical error on the papers changed the child's age from "15" to "1.5". When their new son Patrik (Tom Ljungman
) arrives, they are shocked to find him a troubled teenager with a criminal background.
Hurrying to the adoption agency to rectify the error, they arrive to find there's nothing that can be done until the next week. Over the next few days, Sven is appalled by Patrik's insulting behavior, even though Göran sees the good in him. Patrik is initially afraid of both men, believing stereotype
s that homosexuals are all pedophiles
. Once the agency reopens, all three are told by the officials that Patrik's only options are living with them or returning to the foster center where he came from. After living up to his troublemaking habits, Patrik causes Sven to leave in disgust over Göran's unwillingness to kick Patrik out. Göran agrees to look after Patrik until the agency can find a suitable home for him. Over the next few days, Patrik reveals his talent at gardening, and Göran grows to accept him.
After several weeks, the agency notifies Göran that a family has been found for Patrik, who by this time has gotten past his initial fear and contempt for his surrogate parents. Sven returns as he and Göran both realize their issues weren't worth ending their relationship. Patrik's new father arrives to pick him up, and he leaves with him. After a short time, Patrik returns, and the three then live together permanently.
. It was screened to a sold-out cinema at the Seattle International Film Festival
for the festival's annual "Gay-la" event. It is the opening night film at the 2009 Inside Out Film and Video Festival
, and was a centerpiece film for Frameline in San Francisco in June 2009. It was the closing film at the Dublin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (GAZE) in August 2009 and at the Glasgay! Film Festival in October 2009. Also screened at the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival (where it placed 3rd for Best Feature) in November 2009, and at the 25th Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in early December 2009, where a discussion was held with director Ella Lemhagen after the sold-out (closing) screening at the Slovenian Cinematheque.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
in which a gay Swedish couple adopt what they at first believe to be a baby, Patrik, only to have him turn out to be a homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
teenager.
Plot
The film chronicles the experience of a gay Swedish couple, Sven (Torkel PeterssonTorkel Petersson
Torkel Petersson is a Swedish actor born in Lund, Sweden, on August 19, 1969.-Selected filmography:*1999: Zero Tolerance *2000: Jalla! Jalla!*2002: Old Men in New Cars *2003: Kopps...
) and Göran Skoogh (Gustaf Skarsgård
Gustaf Skarsgård
Gustaf Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, son of My Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård and brother of Eija, Valter, Sam, Bill and Alexander Skarsgård...
) as they move into a new suburban neighborhood and adopt a child, beginning with their welcoming party. After meeting their new neighbors and settling into their jobs, they decide to adopt
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
a child. Although they are married, no country is willing to let a gay couple adopt any of its children. After initially being turned down by the adoption, a Swedish orphan becomes available, which they readily agree to adopt. However, a typographical error on the papers changed the child's age from "15" to "1.5". When their new son Patrik (Tom Ljungman
Tom Ljungman
Tom Ljungman, Tom Ljungman, Tom Ljungman, (born in Stockholm, Sweden on 29 May 1991, is a Swedish television and film actor. His first acting role was in Errol in 2003. He is best known for his roles in television series De halvt dolda and as Foppa in Livet enligt Rosa....
) arrives, they are shocked to find him a troubled teenager with a criminal background.
Hurrying to the adoption agency to rectify the error, they arrive to find there's nothing that can be done until the next week. Over the next few days, Sven is appalled by Patrik's insulting behavior, even though Göran sees the good in him. Patrik is initially afraid of both men, believing stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s that homosexuals are all pedophiles
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
. Once the agency reopens, all three are told by the officials that Patrik's only options are living with them or returning to the foster center where he came from. After living up to his troublemaking habits, Patrik causes Sven to leave in disgust over Göran's unwillingness to kick Patrik out. Göran agrees to look after Patrik until the agency can find a suitable home for him. Over the next few days, Patrik reveals his talent at gardening, and Göran grows to accept him.
After several weeks, the agency notifies Göran that a family has been found for Patrik, who by this time has gotten past his initial fear and contempt for his surrogate parents. Sven returns as he and Göran both realize their issues weren't worth ending their relationship. Patrik's new father arrives to pick him up, and he leaves with him. After a short time, Patrik returns, and the three then live together permanently.
Cast
- Gustaf SkarsgårdGustaf SkarsgårdGustaf Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, son of My Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård and brother of Eija, Valter, Sam, Bill and Alexander Skarsgård...
as Göran Skoogh - Torkel PeterssonTorkel PeterssonTorkel Petersson is a Swedish actor born in Lund, Sweden, on August 19, 1969.-Selected filmography:*1999: Zero Tolerance *2000: Jalla! Jalla!*2002: Old Men in New Cars *2003: Kopps...
as Sven Skoogh - Tom LjungmanTom LjungmanTom Ljungman, Tom Ljungman, Tom Ljungman, (born in Stockholm, Sweden on 29 May 1991, is a Swedish television and film actor. His first acting role was in Errol in 2003. He is best known for his roles in television series De halvt dolda and as Foppa in Livet enligt Rosa....
as Patrik - Annika Hallin as Eva
- Amanda Davin as Isabell
- Jacob Ericksson as Lennart Ljung
- Anette Sevreus as Louise Ljung
- Mirja Burlin as Carina Karlsson
- Antti Reini as Tommy Karlsson
- Marie Delleskog as Britt-Marie Svensson
- Johan Kylén as Socialchef
- Kristian Lima de Faria as Socialassistent
- Karin de Frumerie as Receptionist
- Anders Lönnbro as Urban Adler
- Åsa-Lena Hjelm as Vivianne
Release
The film was shown at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival and the 2009 London Lesbian and Gay Film FestivalLondon Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
The London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival takes place every spring in London, England. It began as a season of gay and lesbian films at the National Film Theatre in 1986 and 1987 under the title "Gay's Own Pictures", curated by Peter Packer of the Tyneside Cinema, and was renamed the London...
. It was screened to a sold-out cinema at the Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
for the festival's annual "Gay-la" event. It is the opening night film at the 2009 Inside Out Film and Video Festival
Inside Out Film and Video Festival
The Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival is an annual film festival in Toronto, Ontario, devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film and video works...
, and was a centerpiece film for Frameline in San Francisco in June 2009. It was the closing film at the Dublin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (GAZE) in August 2009 and at the Glasgay! Film Festival in October 2009. Also screened at the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival (where it placed 3rd for Best Feature) in November 2009, and at the 25th Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in early December 2009, where a discussion was held with director Ella Lemhagen after the sold-out (closing) screening at the Slovenian Cinematheque.