Movie Loner

I usually don’t go for road movies. Thelma and Louise makes me cringe. However, I love to be surprised. Aberdeen was a definite surprise. I stumbled upon this little gem a couple years back on Sundance Channel. You might recognize its star, Lena Headey, if you are a fan of the FOX series The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Headey plays Kaisa, a young London lawyer who enjoys drugs and random sexual encounters. One morning she gets a call from her mother requesting she fly home to Aberdeen, Norway. Kaisa is less than thrilled, especially when she learns her estranged alcoholic father (Stellan Skarsgard) is tagging along. Her father shows up at the airport drunk and gets them both booted from the flight.

They end up traveling by car (it is a road movie) and a long, uncomfortable journey begins. Father and daughter don’t see eye to eye on anything. Their damaged relationship needs major repairs, and their time together proves to be a perfect remedy. Eventually, they arrive in Aberdeen. Kaisa’s mother is waiting with a secret to reveal.

Headey makes this movie for me. She plays Kaisa with a suit of emotional armor. As the film progresses, her vulnerabilities are stripped, leaving a scared little girl in need of a father’s love. A touching scene near the end between her and Skarsgard seals the deal. Aberdeen is one of those unknown movies that deserves an audience. Hopefully, it will find one.