Armand

RECOMMENDATION:

DESCRIPTION:

A film psychodrama that immerses us in the dark and intense world of family relationships and subtle psychological games. The story revolves around the titular character, six-year-old Armand, who is accused of inappropriate behavior toward his best classmate, Jon. Elisabeth, Armand’s mother, played by Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), and Jon’s parents — Sarah and Anders — meet at the school in the presence of the teaching staff to try to resolve the crisis situation together.

GALLERY:

LET’S TALK ABOUT:

What particularly moved you in the film?

Which values from the list below does Armand address?

Which ones are the most important to you?

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Armand is an intimate story centered around six characters — what do you think about each of their attitudes? What positive traits/behaviors do you see in them?

Elisabeth — Armand’s mother

Sarah — Jon’s mother

Anders — Jon’s father

Jarle — the school principal

Ajsa — the teacher

Sunna — Armand and Jon’s homeroom teacher

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Each of them is also, in a way, lost and makes mistakes — which character do you relate to the most in this regard?

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The conversation, which turns into an internal investigation, aims to uncover the truth about what happened between the boys — have you ever struggled to get to the truth in a situation?

Have you ever been judged unfairly?

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that nowadays we suffer from a “deficit of truth”? Why?

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There are two dance scenes in the film — what is their significance?

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The director allows us to look deep into the characters to understand their motivations and the origins of certain behaviors — arguably the most complex character is Sarah — what do we learn about her?

What impact does her past have on Armand’s case?

What are her motivations?

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Ultimately, Anders brings the case to a close — what do you think about his attitude and what drives it?

How do you interpret the meaning of the final scene — in the rain, in the school courtyard?

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The film shows how powerful individual words can be in people’s lives — how much importance do you place on the words you speak?

Do you keep your word?

Have you ever experienced someone breaking their word or failing to keep a promise?

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The members of the teaching staff are portrayed in a rather unfavorable light — as somewhat incompetent, lacking a plan and procedures to safely resolve the situation. They propose a conversation, which at first seems absurd, but ultimately leads to a satisfying resolution. Do you like to talk?

Do you prefer talking about yourself, or rather listening and asking questions?

Describe a conversation that had a positive impact on your life and/or someone else’s.

What kinds of conversations are the most satisfying for you?

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List of values:
Altruism, Assertiveness, Selflessness, Safety, Closeness, Heroism, Patience, Goodness, Spirit, Empathy, Hospitality, Politeness, Generosity, Honor, Humor, Creativity, Loyalty, Wisdom, Courage, Love, Motivation, Hope, Reliability, Nonconformity, Responsibility, Bravery, Composure, Optimism, Openness, Passion, Beauty, Humility, Peace, Resourcefulness, Sacrifice, Beauty, Truth, Friendship, Punctuality, Joy, Reason, Integrity, Heart, Strength, Consistency, Respect, Honesty, Happiness, Transcendence, Care, Fairness, Moderation, Order, Mindfulness, Gratitude, Faith, Credibility, Knowledge, Fidelity, Freedom, Sensitivity, Support, Compassion, Imagination, Perseverance, Commitment, Life