Saima – Scenes from a Midlife Crisis

Saima (40), a newly appointed judge, is a little upset when her partner Ludvig (45) returns from a long work trip and confesses to an affair. As she grapples with the betrayal, Saima is plagued by nightmares of a needy frog. Saima’s mother, absent for ten years, postpones her visit, deepening Saima’s sense of abandonment. As Ludvig's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Saima is forced to confront who she truly is and what she wants. The tension culminates in a chaotic wedding of Ludvig’s brother, where Saima loses control, steals a police car and escapes into a dark forest. Ludvig follows in a desperate attempt to reconnect. In a last attempt to save their relationship, Saima and Ludvig undergo a psychedelic ritual and reclaim the essence of their love. Saima sends Ludvig to the Arctic, where he regains his sanity. Now pregnant, Saima confronts her mother, but the unresolved fear of abandonment remains. After giving birth, Saima asks her newborn, "You'll never leave me, right?"

Director’s statement
My partner had an affair.

It was painful.

It was the best thing that happened to us.

I was amazed at how such a painful and destructive experience can turn into something so positive and transformative. It forces you to look into dark, uncomfortable corners of yourself that you prefer not to see.

Me (Chintis Lundgren, 43) and my partner (Draško Ivezić, 49) are developing this project together. It’s a personal journey and an exploration of the darkest sides of ourselves, perhaps a form of couple’s therapy.

Saima: Scenes from a Midlife Crisis is set in the universe we created in our previous works, including the award-winning short film, Manivald. We are now ready to explore this world and its characters in a longer format.