Återträffen is a Swedish foreign language film that primarily focuses on the impact bullying, abuse and harassment has on high school aged students.
The film is written, produced and stars Anna Odell.
Återträffen takes place 20 years after the main character's high school graduation at a speculative reunion party. But all is not what it seems as Anna, (also the name of Anna Odell's character), is not actually invited to the real reunion.
She puts together a film with actors to be sent to her former classmates to show how the evening would have gone if she was there.
Återträffen sheds light on the long-term impacts bullying and harassment can have on people during their time in high school.
Synopsis
Återträffen follows Anna as she puts together a production of her classes' 20 year reunion. She meticulously gives details to her actors to successfully portray their roles and films her version of what would have happened.
We watch Anna as she works creating her version of the reunion that answer questions relating to what type of people her classmates are. What they are trying to hide? Why was she not invited? All while unveiling secrets from the past and present.
Återträffen tells a very unique story of creativity, courage, and emotion. But the real question is how will Anna's classmates react to her film and what she brings up from the past?
Important Themes
As a whole Återträffen speaks to many issues revolving around the mistreatment of others and bullying during adolescence.
Bullying in itself has become a hot topic worldwide when it comes to schooling.
While statistics show that Sweden has the lowest rates of bullying in Europe. Sweden still finds itself with the highest rates of sexual harassment on the continent.
According Gatestone Institute (international policy experts), Sweden was named as the “rape capital of the west” in 2015. Old Institute records held that as early as 1975 the Swedish government started blaming the higher number of rapes on the influx of immigrants from Muslim countries like Iraq, Iran, Syria and Somalia (without any evidence backing up said xenophobic sentiment).
Moreover, just because bullying rates are low it does not mean that there is no issue present. According to OCED statistics more than one in six schoolkids get bullied in the country. With a total of a total of 17.9 percent of Swedish citizens being surveyed stating they were exposed to some form of bullying at least a few times a month.
It is widely held by many adults that your adolescent years are probably your most impressionable years and where you really grow into yourself.
As many can contest (myself included) bullying does happen but more should be done to ensure that there aren't any open avenues for hurtful discrimination to take place.
No matter your gender, ethnicity, religion or social standing everyone should be treated on the same basis. And it is paramount that schools, institutions, academies and youth based associations do their best to create safe and responsible environments for students to both learn and grow.
Conclusion
All in all Återträffen is a very intriguing, emotional and thought-provoking film.
It sheds light on just how much the actions of one or a group of people can effect someone. Expanding further on how those who commit offences should be held accountable for their actions.
Återträffen touches on some very vulnerable and personal issues which make the film all the more intimate.
It follows a very unique storyline and may just show you how powerful rehearsing and filming can be.
As a film within a film Återträffen opens your eyes to different ways you can powerfully articulate your personal story.
