‘Kalak’ is Isabella Eklöf’s new movie that revolves around main character Jan, a nurse, a father, and victim of sexual abuse by his father when he was a teenager. In the film, Jan, portrayed by Emil Johnsen, works in Greenland and wants to be accepted by the natives and become a “Kalak”, a true or “dirty” Greenlander.
The movie deals with serious themes, such as, sexual trauma, the Greenlandic culture and the difficult relationship between Danes and the Greenlanders.
The movie can be seen as deeply provocative as it showcases a shocking first scene, or because of the political issues surrounding Greenland and its attachment to Denmark.
Jan, the protagonist, uses sexuality to cope with the trauma he experienced and does not want to address. As he buries this traumatic event within himself deeper and deeper as time passes, it gets worse and he spirals down.
The portrayal of sexual abuse and the consequences it can have on an individual, as well of the cultural issues is raw and honest during the entire movie.
