DIRECTOR: Sonja Prosenc STARRING: Marko Mandic, Aliocha Schneider, Katarina Stegnar, Mila Bezjak RUNNING TIME: 2 hrs 2 minutes LANGUAGE: Slovene, English, French
In this black comedy drama, we meet a seemingly perfect family consisting of Olivia, Aleksander and their daughter Agata. With the arrival of 25 year old Julien in their home, their lives are turned upside down and their dysfunctional relationships are revealed.
***
This marks the third official submission for director Sonja Prosenc for Slovenia. She's been submitted in 2015 for The Tree, 2019 for History of Love and now in 2024 for Family Therapy. The film had its world premiere at Tribeca in the international narrative competition and went on to screen at Sarajevo where it won the arthouse cinema award. Prosenc also received the Zivko Nikolic Award for Special Contribution to Cinematic Expression at the Herceg Novi, Montenegro Film Festival.
Family Therapy was selected by the Slovenian Federation of Filmmakers' Guilds. It talks about the topical issue of the untouchable elite and its hedonistic ways, the jury said in explaining its choice on September 11th. "The film succeeds in intertwining the complex dynamic of relations between the inner and outer worlds, the spiritual and the physical. Using an innovative combination of modes of expression, high production level and the right amount of comedy and tragedy, the cast and crew managed to break through the illusory glass that until then protected us from the intrusion of brutal reality," the jury said.
The film is produced by Monoo.
Family Therapy is a dark comedy and it was filmed in Slovenia.
To check out all previous submissions for Slovenia, click HERE.
Family Therapy, directed by Sonja Prosenc, is a darkly comedic and insightful exploration of family dynamics and societal privilege. Set in a lavish, glass-walled house deep in the woods, the film follows the Kralj family, a meticulously ordered trio whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel with the arrival of unexpected guests. Prosenc’s sharp satire, coupled with an offbeat sense of humor, turns this story of domestic dysfunction into a biting critique of class and control, making Family Therapy both entertaining and thought-provoking.
From the first scene, it’s clear that this is no ordinary family drama. Aleksander (Marko Mandić), the self-assured patriarch, and Olivia (Katarina Stegnar), his perfectionist wife, live with their daughter Agata (Mila Bezjak), who exudes quiet rebellion beneath her outward composure. The family’s routine is disrupted by the arrival of Julien (Aliocha Schneider), Aleksander’s son from a previous relationship. Julien’s presence in the household immediately creates tension, especially when his background clashes with the Kralj’s elite lifestyle. This tension escalates when a stranded family appears at their doorstep, challenging the family’s rigid boundaries and highlighting the thin line between privilege and exclusion.
What stands out in Family Therapy is how Prosenc blends biting humor with social commentary. The film’s immaculate visual style, polished to a gleaming perfection mirrors the Kralj family’s obsession with order and image. At the same time, the Baroque-inspired score, featuring pieces by Vivaldi and Purcell, adds a layer of irony to the proceedings. These aesthetic choices elevate the film’s satirical tone, poking fun at the Kralj's pompousness while underscoring the absurdity of their insulated, self-absorbed world.
Prosenc doesn’t shy away from making bold statements about class and entitlement. The Kralj family’s disregard for others is epitomized in a moment where they drive past a stranded car, indifferent to the other family’s plight. The film cleverly integrates references to real-world issues placing the Kralj's personal detachment in a broader social context. This connection between the personal and the political is what makes Family Therapy so engaging, while the focus is on the family’s internal conflicts, the film subtly critiques the societal structures that shape and reinforce their behavior.
Family Therapy is a compelling and layered film that uses absurdness to explore serious themes of privilege, family, and social division. Prosenc masterfully balances satire and drama, guiding the audience through the Kralj's descent into chaos while encouraging reflection on the dynamics at play in both the family unit and society as a whole. With its sharp writing, standout performances, and a visually striking style, the film is an audacious and entertaining examination of a family, and a world, teetering on the edge of collapse, reminding that perhaps we all need just a tiny bit of therapy.