Armand's School Environment Inspires Satirical Film
Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel's debut feature, "Armand," is a satirical examination of the school environment, a setting familiar to the Norwegian director from his experience working with children.
The film centers on Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve), a single mother whose 6-year-old son Armand is accused of an altercation with another student. As Elisabeth and the other parents engage in volatile discussions moderated by school staff, their increasingly circuitous and superficial dialogue reflects the empty rhetoric of politicians.
Tøndel's satirical approach highlights the absurdity of the situation, using surreal elements such as an incessant nosebleed and Elisabeth's prolonged laughter to heighten the unease. Two dance sequences further evoke a sense of unreality.
Tøndel's careful attention to visual composition is evident in the claustrophobic close-ups and the use of non-traditional camera angles, such as the Spielbergian shot that rotates around the table during the nosebleed scene.
In selecting the school as the film's setting, Tøndel sought a location with a distinct Gothic architecture and institutional feel, ultimately choosing a school that allowed for alterations and additions during filming.
Tøndel's nomination for the DGA's first-time theatrical feature film director award and his Caméra d'Or win at Cannes demonstrate the recognition his directorial debut has received.