ALPHA

After the death of his mother, Rein tries to find himself by working as a snowboard instructor in an Upper Alps village, equipped with zen spirit and self-help. At least until his father Gijs enters the scene, hogging all the limelight with his fun-loving, much younger attitude. Tension grows between the two as they are left alone (and in poor company) amid the violent majesty of their surroundings, ultimately highlighting the triviality of their alpha-male struggle. Real-life father and son, Gijs and Reinout Scholten breathe truth into this portrayal of masculinities in crisis against a snowy backdrop (much like Östlund’s Force Majeure), receiving the Best European Film in the Giornate degli Autori section at Venice. The 4:3 format frames the protagonists in front of the Alpine peaks in this tale of existential adventures.