Do achievements make us feel bad even if we end up getting everything we ever wanted? This is the paradoxical human state that Johannes, a young psychology student, sees exploited by place of internship. Diagnoses, colourful pills in blister foil, prescription drugs and doctors visits scheduled a year ahead. Among his internship supervisor’s patients are Rose, shattered by her intimate trauma; Markus, weighed down by crying fits; Emily, struggling with ADHD; and the explosive performance artist Rakel. Inspired by Johannes’s spontaneous idea, the colorful group of patients forms a dance therapy community – from now on, they will ease the pain without pills or prescriptions, only through movement and music.  That is, until the third component enters the mix: Johannes’ feelings for Raquel.

RIGA IFF viewers will recognize Langseth for her dramedy Hotel (2015) with Alicia Vikander; the Swedish director continues to probe the subtle ailments of society, the myths of welfare and the complexities of mental health. By tinkering with monotony as yet another symptom of affluence, she musicalizes and choreographs the scars of the psyche, creating human characters who are uncannily similar to ourselves. A spark of Scandinavian cinema, subversive situation comedy and dances to ABBA-style pop ballads serve as a reminder: few things are more infuriating than a cult of success that forces you to “buy back your health”. How about you take someone by the hand and get dancing instead. Just try not to fall in love with your patient?