Den kroniske uskyld (1985)

Off-List: Den kroniske uskyld 

The third off-List movie of 1985 is a Danish movie, “Den kroniske uskyld”, which IMDB translates to “The Chronic Innocence”. It is based on a book by author Klaus Rifbjerg and was a big hit in Denmark when it came out in 1985.

Janus (Allan Olsen) and Tore (Tjhomas Algren) are in their senior year in high school (or the Danish equivalent). Tore has returned from a period living in Jutland and has resumed his role as central character among his friends. Janus is the classic follower, the squire of the knight and generally allows Tore to lead the way.

One of the first things that happens after his return, is that a new girl is showing up. Helle (Simone Bendix) is very pretty and both boys are knocked off their feet. At the high school party, it is clear that it will be Tore and Helle that will be the couple, and Janus who gets the ungrateful role as friend. Being, as he is, always close to Tore, Janus becomes a very close witness to their relationship. Janus is also our narrator and mixed in with the story of Helle and Tore, we clearly sense his own frustration. Something he takes out on the willing, but not very cultured, Inger (Helle Fastrup).

The real monster here, though, is Helle’s mother, Mrs. Junkersen (Susse Wold, whose character never gets a first name). Already when we get the first glimpse of her, there is something sinister about her. Janus learns that she has previously taken over her daughter’s boyfriends and it is clear that Helle is reluctant to introduce Tore to her mother. To no avail, Mrs. Junkersen introduces herself and quickly takes the lead. It is obvious that she is very wealthy, gets what she wants, and is enjoying being admired. Think of a Mrs. Robinson as a spider queen, playing with and eating her prey.

Tore is blind to all this, but Janus sees it and is scared. Never mind his own jealousy, when he sees what Mrs. Junkersen is after he gets worried and protective of his friends.

The story climaxes at the graduation party in the house of Mrs. Junkersen. Here she goes all out vamp, and Tore does not stand a chance with tragic results.

Despite moments of humor this is a fairly downbeat affair. We know already going in of an impeding doom, we just do not know how bad things get. If you are looking for a silly happy ending movie, this is not the one. Yet, this is also a sort of coming of age story, as most teenage stories are. It is a bitter lesson and a brutal innocence lost. In fact, this is less about growing up than of losing innocence. Janus is experiencing his own anger, frustration, fear, jealousy and worst of all a meanness in himself. But he also loses his naivete concerning his friends and their parents. He ends up wiser on himself and other people, while some of the others succumb.

This all sound gloomy, and I suppose it is, but there are also a number of highlights that make the movie easier to watch. For me, this was a window into familiar places 40 years ago. The music was precisely the music we heard at parties back then. The cloth, the jargon, it is all very familiar. Imagine you could buy a pint size plastic cup of tap beer for 20 kroner, yes, I remember that even though it would be a handful of years before I would buy that myself. When they go around in Copenhagen, I recognize the places and so much look the same. It brings it all very close    

There is also a lot of joviality between the adolescents, the banter is fun and the relationship between Helle and Tore is beautiful, even if it feels unfair that it is pretty boy Tore who gets the pretty girl.

I actually never watched “Den kroniske uskyld” before now and it is sort of a miss. I guess I feared it would be a rough ride, and it is, but it is also one of those movies I am happy to have watched.