This is it. 25...
22, 23, 25...
Can you please come help me find 24?
22, 23, 25.
Here it is.
Christoffer...?
How do you think tomorrow will go?
Fine. I'll put him in a box and bring him home to Denmark.
He's your dad, Christoffer.
Well...
PRAGUE
a film by Ole Christian Madsen
Great... Why don't they just give you a key?
- Let me try. - It doesn't work.
There. Come on.
I did the same thing. Let me try.
- Shall I unpack for you? - No, just leave it.
Aren't you going to unpack?
What is it?
I'm just looking at you.
I'm going to call Thomas.
What the hell? The socket is different.
I'm hungry.
Can we eat at the hotel?
Are you serious? There are over 1000 restaurants in this city.
I'm a little tired.
- The Czechs are famous for goulash. - Isn't that the Hungarians?
Let's have that then.
- All right? - Yes.
Maja? Where do you think we've been the happiest?
Or what's the happiest thing you remember about us?
- When we had Thomas? - Doesn't count. The two of us.
The time you thought you'd ordered six oysters and got seventy.
And a long night on the toilet. That was fun, but not happiness.
We certainly laughed about it.
Well, maybe it was.
Then we've been happy many times.
The seventy oysters, Thomas-
- and the summer cottage, of course.
And the flat in Kingosgade. The world's smallest.
Aren't we going to talk about him?
Who?
Your father, of course.
Why? I didn't know him.
So you keep telling me. How can you be so calm?
I haven't seen him since I was 12. No, he dropped by when I turned 15.
- You never told me that. - He took me to Tivoli Gardens.
And he promised me I could visit him here. That's 25 years ago.
It's no fun talking about him. Let's talk about us instead.
- How did your test go? - Fine.
- What are you doing? - I'm in the middle of a game.
Is there something you'd like?
Money.
Something from here, son.
I don't know. What do they have?
- Nice things carved out of wood. - Right...
We'll find a game for you. Sleep tight, Tommy. Say hi to Grandma.
- I will. Bye. - Bye, sweetie.
He seemed a bit sad.
Really?
You don't have to come along tomorrow if you don't want to.
- I promised to help you with this. - But you don't really want to, right?
I'm just not very good at it.
It's okay. I'll go by myself 'cause I'm really good at it.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Let's meet afterwards, okay?
The window!
Where are you going? Wait!
How was it?
- He was dead. - I imagine so.
- What's in the box? - His things.
- Who was on the phone? - My mother.
How is she?
Fine. She bakes cakes and loves my dad.
...St. Vitus Cathedral...
This is the Staromestska Square.
...the Jewish cemetery, the Charles Bridge...
How would you feel about moving?
Why should we?
I'd just like to try something new. Shake things up. Try something.
We could sell the house and take Thomas and travel the world.
But you're scared to fly.
Is this a mid-life crisis?
I'm 40 and want to do new things.
People under 40 always think that's a mid-life crisis.
But it's not. Then you think of something. I'm game for anything.
Game? When I rearrange the furniture, you get nervous.
Since when are you game for anything?
Since I found out you're seeing another man.
What other man?
The other man you're seeing.
- I'm not seeing anyone. - I know you are.
- I have no idea what you mean. - Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
The other man you're seeing, even though we're married.
It's this other man I'm talking about.
You're thinking of leaving me?
Maja. It's damn clever of you.
Ingenious.
It's the world's best excuse for leaving. "I've found someone else."
End of discussion. "I've found someone else. It's over."
What am I supposed to say?
"Oh no! You've found someone else."
That's hard. It's hard to think of a comeback.
Because if one has fallen in love, one can leave without explaining. Right?
Stop that.
Is this when I ask what Michael has that I don't?
You've read my texts!
- And seen your pictures. He's cute. - You've checked my mobile.
- Yes! I checked your mobile. - I won't put up with this.
You have a lover. I'd be a wimp not to check your phone.
What was the plan? I'd get pissed off and leave -
- and make it easy for you? But that's not going to happen.
Because I forgive you, Maja. Are you listening? Are you?
Is there something you want to say? Is there?
Is there?
Where do you fuck, Maja?
How often do you fuck? Why? Give me the details. Do you mind?
- That's why you brought me here. - Maybe so.
- But it's too late, Christoffer. - You think so? I don't.
But it's okay that you want to throw away 14 years, because it's too late.
That's up you, but I just don't think so. Okay?
[Skipped item no. 122]
Do you love him?
Jesus Christ!
You can't leave me for a man and not know if you love him.
- I don't know. - What do you mean?
I don't know if I do or if I don't.
Get out of here. I can't stand looking at you.
Get out, Maja! Go home.
Were you going to warn me or leave me a note?
There were plenty of warnings, and I'm not the one who needs forgiveness.
What did you say? Do I need it?
Huh? What are you talking about?
It's gone, Christoffer.
There's nothing left.
We don't talk about the same things. And we don't see the same things.
We've become strangers to each other.
You've disappeared. You've disappeared somewhere.
And I don't know where that is.
I'm sorry. This isn't the way I wanted you to find out.
I met Michael at an exhibition.
He was there, and I was there.
We got to talking and had some wine.
He was nice to me.
That's how it happened. It was just over six months ago.
- Six months? - Yes.
I'm sorry.
I'm going home today.
Why did you come?
Because you asked me to. I'm going home and that's it.
- No, I want you to stay and help me. - I don't know if I can.
I think you owe me that.
We've been married for 14 years. I think you owe me that.
All right. Until Your father's affairs are settled.
Let's go then.
Well, Christoffer, now I'm dead.
And here you are. Maybe you brought your wife. If you have one.
You're an adult, but I really can't imagine that.
Maybe you have children. If you have, they'll be pretty.
You were, when you were a child.
It's strange. I know you, and I don't know you.
It hurts. But I will not complain.
I haven't been a good father. But a bad one.
Maybe I had my reasons.
I disappeared from your life. Your mother and I fell out.
Your mother wouldn't let me see you, and I gave up...
Maybe too easily. I don't know.
I ended up down here.
And the thought of contacting you seemed more and more remote.
You had your own life, and I didn't want to stir things up.
Maybe I was wrong. Well, I probably was.
You can't have it all. That's the case with the two of us.
But there's something you must know.
Not a day has gone by-
- without me thinking of you, Christoffer.
Goodbye, my son.
Your father sounded sincere.
Yes.
On tape he was really good.
I want to go back to the hotel. I'm nauseous. It must be something I ate.
Maja?
- Maja, I want to show you something. - Don't come in.
- Are you alright? - I'm throwing up.
I thought about what you said...
Come out. Good. Come and see.
Here's the thing. Let's start from the beginning.
We're two strangers in a hotel room. Who goes first?
- First at what? - Then I will.
My name is Christoffer Hojholt.
I'm 42 years old.
I have my own law firm that deals in financial transactions -
- such as bankruptcy and compulsory debt settlement.
I don't like animals.
I don't like walks or fresh air.
- And as for infidelity... - Christoffer!
I don't go sailing -
- or like watching home improvement programs.
But I like food and I like watching Eurosport.
I like downhill skiing. I'm afraid of flying and of the future.
And I'm afraid of drinks with ugly fruits in them.
I'm good with children and I would like more.
I'm inattentive to my partner, but willing to work hard on it. Your turn.
- To do what? - Say something.
I can't.
Yes, you can. I suppose that's why you came with me.
To try something or say something. Let's try, all right?
I've hurt you.
I've really hurt you deeply.
It's not that bad.
I waited and hoped for so long that things would be different.
But I lost sight of you.
You lost sight of me?
The picture was gone.
The picture of us was gone.
Sometimes when you're not around, I even forget what you look like.
You never make me happy. You just sit there and...
And when I try to get close to you, you're always busy with something.
It's like meeting to a wall.
I'm always sad.
Always.
You don't have the guts.
You don't have the guts to talk about this, do you?
Can't you just be unhappy?
Christoffer?
Who are you?
I don't understand English.
You're his son, right? My name is Alena.
Would you like some coffee?
Coffee?
He tried a lot of things, but never made money.
Not much at least.
Okay. You love the father.
That's what my mother always said.
She constantly talked about that idiot. She never found another man.
I don't quite agree. I think he was an asshole. A real asshole.
I think he forgot too many things.
He forgot that 12-year-old boys think they've done something wrong -
- when dad doesn't come home. Something seriously wrong.
And he forgot that 12-year-old boys check the mail for a letter every day.
Do you know how annoying it is to be in 6th grade -
- and say Your father is dead, 'cause they keep asking where he is?
Do you?
How embarrassing it is when he turns up in class on your 15th birthday?
He wants to take you to Tivoli. It's annoying, it's embarrassing.
He forgot you don't move abroad and make tapes saying, "I forgot you."
- "Sorry about that." Elena? - Alena.
Do I look like a stupid idiot, who thinks that Dad is wonderful?
Do I look like an idiot whose father apologizes on a tape?
No, I don't.
And you know what? He didn't even apologize.
Coffee? Yes.
Thanks.
I recognize that.
- It was my father's. - It's for you.
He'd tap the cigarette on the lid.
I remember that.
He told me to give it to you if you ever came.
Thomas. Hi.
Hi.
Isn't it a bit late?
I didn't realize. Sorry.
Are you okay?
Yes.
- Are you drunk? - No, I just wanted to talk.
- Is this weird for you? - No, no.
Do you think I'm weird?
You're my father.
Do you feel you know me?
You're my father.
- Thomas... - It's late, Dad.
Sorry. Go back to bed, son.
Thomas, I love you. Thomas...
I love you.
- Should I say hi to Mom? - Yes.
Goodnight.
How did we end here?
How did this happen?
I need you to hold me.
What are we going to do?
I don't know... What are we going to do?
What do you want to do?
What I've always wanted.
And what's that?
I have to put my father in a coffin. It's very important that I'm there.
Apparently it's a Czech thing.
This is my daughter.
Hello.
This is Christoffer. The son he always talked about.
He always talked about you.
He told me he had a son in Denmark.
He was ashamed that he didn't know you.
Always ashamed, always unhappy.
That's how it is.
We're always ashamed and never good enough for the world.
Maja?
Christoffer?
I saw you today.
Yes. And I saw you.
You looked happy.
Why didn't you come over to me?
Because that would've ruined it.
You looked absolutely beautiful.
My father was a homosexual.
- Sorry. - He and the lawyer were lovers.
My goodness.
He lived with a woman and her child.
Just like a little family.
I'd like to go to bed. Do you want to come with me?
Yes.
- When will he be back? - I don't know. Nobody does.
Then we're stuck in Prague.
You can go home now.
What?
I have to wait for them to find him and sign a lot of papers.
I don't want to.
Why not?
Because then it's all over.
Then I think we should change and do some sightseeing.
- So what's he like? This Michael? - Please don't.
No. I want to know.
- He's wonderful. - Okay.
Big cock?
Very big cock.
It goes all the way up, and he tastes really good.
Good. It would be a pity if he had a tiny cock that tasted like shit.
He shaves his balls, and I suck him for hours.
So now you suck for more than 3-4 minutes?
Yes.
So when you're together you fuck all the time in all kinds of positions?
- Missionary and doggy-style? - Mostly doggy-style. He's tireless.
- And young. - And he's an artist.
And you're an art historian, so you can talk.
- We don't talk much. - You fuck.
Young men want it all the time.
So I've heard.
Here's the best part.
Alena, this is Maja. Maja, Alena and Kristina.
Hello.
The lawyer called. Your father's in Nairobi.
Nairobi? A real cosmopolitan.
The taxi is waiting, so tie your shoelaces and come with me.
I'll wait.
Was that really necessary?
No.
You're pretty slick. Anew wife and child already.
What do you want me to tell Thomas?
Tell him that I had to hurry to catch up with you.
Listen, couldn't you for once show me what you're feeling?
You don't have to cry. Just slap me or spit in my face.
I'd like to spit in your face but my mouth's too dry.
Are you just leaving?
Did you come all this way to embarrass yourself?
You're such an idiot, Christoffer.
Can't you imagine I'd like a reaction or a sign that I mean something to you?
Like fucking an underage artist?
Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you?
- Don't talk to me that way! - Was that too much for you?
Because Maja does everything right, and I do everything wrong.
I've been there for you. I've been waiting and waiting.
What do you want? I'm not the one who's leaving.
I'm not leaving. You're pushing me away!
You're impossible to live with!
After 14 years you figure that out?
Shut the fuck up!
I'm not the one breaking up a family because I have a little crisis.
Are you telling me that I'm breaking up our family?
You're almost 40 and you're fucking the socks off a young guy.
Who the fuck do you think you are? You shit!
Who do you think you are?
You're not even human. You don't give anything.
- Why don't you give anything? - What do you want me to give?
Don't I give anything? Here...
Here's some money.
Money... Take it.
You want me to give?
You want to help?
Let's give something together.
We're giving and giving.
Look how I'm giving.
I'm giving and giving and giving!
Christoffer!
Christoffer, I'm pregnant.
I'm pregnant.
I wondered why I felt nauseous all the time.
Then I took a test last night.
Who is the father?
Who do you think?
I think it's Michael.
Yes.
Most likely.
I assume... you want to keep it.
I'm 38.
Now's the time if I want to have any more.
Did you tell him?
Yes.
What did he say?
He was happy. Very happy.
Actually, he was very happy.
And confused.
Christoffer.
I'm sorry.
Take care of yourself.
You too.
Yes.
There's a flight tomorrow, and I've booked a ticket.
Damn.
We didn't even get to eat out.
No.
I love you.
Christoffer, what are you doing here?
Coffee?