17/05/2010 16:04

“Applause” within Exit Point selection

When critically acclaimed actress Thea Barfoed ends her alcohol rehab, she is faced with a difficult choice. During a period of heavy drinking Thea’s marriage ended in divorce and she lost custody of her two boys. Now she wants to bring them back into her life. On account of her charming, yet highly manipulative personality she manages to convince her ex husband in validity of her idea. She must prove to both him and herself that she is capable of such an endeavor. Torn between life on stage and her tormenting past, Thea is forced to face her inner demons, while vehemently walking towards the goal she set.

Danish film “Applause” by Martin Pieter Zandvliet deals with subjects of alcohol and actor (in this case actress), life’s reality and actor’s fantasy, says Dubravka Lakic, programme selector. A brilliant Danish diva Paprika Steen plays a lead role and many say she delivered a role of a lifetime. She plays Thea, a remarkable theatrical actress, but a bad mother and a disappointing wife, a woman dependant on receiving applause each night after a show and heavily addicted to alcohol. While absolutely radiating in “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” in private life she is a desperate woman who fights for custody over children, gradually realizing she will never be “just a mom”. Director’s choice to give a documentary approach to the story presents, along with Steen’s superb acting, essential quality ingredient of this film.