Movie of the Day: Quiet Life (2024) by Alexandros Avranas
- dailyentertainment95
- Apr 24
- 9 min read
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/quiet-life-2025 (France)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33030320/
"Quiet Life (2024)" by Alexandros Avranas: A Stark Look at Refugee Trauma and Bureaucratic Indifference
Greek director Alexandros Avranas' 2024 film, "Quiet Life," is a poignant and often unsettling drama that delves into the devastating impact of the asylum process and bureaucratic systems on a refugee family. Inspired by the real-life phenomenon of resignation syndrome among refugee children in Sweden, the film utilizes Avranas's signature rigid and minimalist style to portray a family's fight for hope and survival in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
About Movie (Detailed Summary)
Set in Sweden in 2018, "Quiet Life" follows the plight of Natalia (Chulpan Khamatova), Sergei (Grigoriy Dobrygin), and their two young daughters, Alina (Naomi Lamp) and Katja (Miroslava Pashutina), who have fled their native Russia due to political persecution. They seek asylum in Sweden, attempting to build a new life and integrate into society while awaiting the decision on their application. They work, the children attend school, and they strive to present themselves as a model family to the authorities. However, their hopes are shattered when their asylum application is rejected. In the wake of this devastating news, their youngest daughter, Katja, falls into a mysterious coma-like state diagnosed as resignation syndrome, a condition observed in some traumatized refugee children who withdraw from the world. The film then follows Natalia and Sergei's harrowing journey as they navigate a cold and rigid healthcare system and indifferent bureaucracy in their desperate attempts to understand and help their daughter. Their resilience is severely tested as they face not only the emotional toll of their daughter's condition but also moral dilemmas and demeaning interactions with the authorities, who at times seem to doubt the authenticity of Katja's illness. The film becomes a stark portrayal of the dehumanizing aspects of the asylum process and the profound psychological impact it can have on vulnerable families.
Plot Summary
After their asylum application is denied in Sweden, a Russian refugee family's youngest daughter falls into a coma due to resignation syndrome, leading her parents on a desperate struggle against the system to save her.
Director's Vision
Alexandros Avranas was motivated to make "Quiet Life" after learning about child resignation syndrome. His vision for the film was to explore the immense challenges faced by refugee parents trying to provide a sense of normalcy and stability for their children in uncertain and often hostile environments. He aimed to depict their struggle to maintain hope and find a way forward despite the inhumane situations they encounter. Avranas employs his characteristic minimalist and austere visual style, utilizing sparse dialogue and a slow-burning tension to create an emotionally charged atmosphere. He sought to present a visually stark and ambiguous commentary on bureaucratic indifference and the trauma experienced by displaced families. While rooted in a specific, real-world phenomenon, Avranas intentionally blends elements of drama, thriller, and satire, challenging conventional narrative approaches to highlight the often absurd and dehumanizing nature of the systems refugees must navigate. He aimed for a film that resists easy categorization and provokes thought about the societal implications of such a syndrome.
Themes
The Refugee Experience: The film offers a critical look at the challenges, anxieties, and trauma faced by individuals and families seeking asylum.
Resignation Syndrome: The film explores this mysterious condition as a manifestation of extreme psychological despair in the face of hopelessness.
Bureaucracy and Indifference: A central theme is the dehumanizing nature of rigid systems and the lack of empathy encountered by vulnerable populations.
Parental Love and Sacrifice: The film highlights the lengths to which parents will go to protect and save their children.
Loss of Hope and Despair: The denial of asylum and its consequences plunge the family into a state of profound hopelessness.
The Human Cost of Policy: The film implicitly critiques immigration policies and their devastating impact on individuals.
Key Success Factors
"Quiet Life" has garnered attention due to its timely subject matter and Alexandros Avranas's distinctive directorial style. Potential key success factors include:
Provocative and Timely Subject: The film tackles the little-known but deeply affecting phenomenon of child resignation syndrome and the broader refugee crisis.
Alexandros Avranas's Acclaimed Direction: Avranas is an award-winning director known for his unflinching and stylistically distinct approach to difficult subjects.
Strong Performances from Lead Actors: Chulpan Khamatova and Grigoriy Dobrygin are noted for their empathetic portrayals of the struggling parents.
Visually Striking and Atmospheric: Avranas's minimalist and austere style contributes to a powerful and unsettling mood.
Festival Presence: Premiering at a major festival like Venice and screening at numerous others provides significant critical visibility.
Multi-National Co-production: The involvement of several European countries reflects the international relevance of the film's themes and facilitates broader distribution.
Summary Short
Alexandros Avranas's "Quiet Life (2024)" is a drama about a Russian refugee family in Sweden whose daughter falls into a coma from resignation syndrome after their asylum is denied, depicting their struggle against bureaucratic indifference.
Awards and Nominations
"Quiet Life (2024)" has received recognition at film festivals:
Nominated for the Orizzonti Award for Best Film at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024.
According to IMDb, the film has received a total of 1 win and 1 nomination. Details regarding the specific win were not available in the provided search snippets beyond the Venice nomination.
Critics Reception
Critical reception for "Quiet Life" has been mixed to positive, with many acknowledging its important subject matter and Avranas's bold artistic choices, while some found its execution uneven.
International Cinephile Society (Marc van de Klashorst): Gave the film 3.5/5 stars, calling it "a film that keeps its audience at arm's length, but also one that makes its message resonate and shows that humanity in the end conquers all." 1
Loud and Clear Reviews (Serena Seghedoni): Gave the film 2/5 stars, describing it as a "jumbled mess" that "doesn't quite know what to do with the fascinating, real-life phenomenon at its center."
ScreenAnarchy (Martin Kudlac): Found it a "visually stark and ambiguous exploration of bureaucratic indifference and familial trauma," praising Avranas's fluid shifts between tones and influences and its challenging of conventions.
IONCINEMA.com (Review): Highlighted the film's "strikingly sinister portrayal of the Swedish Migration Board" and found the performances of Khamatova and Dobrygin effectively empathetic.
Cinema Express (Namrata Joshi): Called it a "poignant drama inspired by a true story" that "highlights the hardships faced by those who, in their search for safety, must confront bureaucratic, medical and moral obstacles," praising the lead actors' performances.
Time Out (Phil de Semlyen): Gave it 3/5 stars, describing it as a "spartan 'Quiet Life'" and an "unsettling snapshot of a family in flux," noting the Kafkaesque depiction of bureaucracy and the film's ability to play on parental fears, despite losing some satirical edges.
Keith Loves Movies (Review): Found it a "collection of fascinating ideas that feel flat because the director seems unsure of what he wants to show on screen," criticizing the tonal clashes, particularly the satirical elements in the hospital setting.
IMDb User Rating: As of late April 2025, it holds a user rating of 7.2/10 based on 16 ratings.
Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics generally agreed that "Quiet Life" tackles a significant and disturbing subject with a distinctive artistic vision. Avranas's minimalist style and focus on the dehumanizing aspects of the asylum process were both praised for their power and criticized by some for creating emotional distance or tonal inconsistency. The performances of the lead actors in conveying the family's trauma and resilience were widely appreciated. While opinions on its overall success varied, the film is consistently described as a thought-provoking and often difficult portrayal of the refugee experience.
Reviews
Reviews for "Quiet Life" emphasize the film's stark and often clinical portrayal of the asylum process and its devastating effects. Many critics found the film's strength in its ability to convey the emotional weight of the family's situation through restrained performances and an oppressive atmosphere. The depiction of bureaucratic procedures and the healthcare system as indifferent or even actively harmful resonated with reviewers. While some found the blend of dramatic and satirical elements jarring, others saw it as an effective way to highlight the absurdity of the challenges faced by the characters. The film is generally regarded as a challenging but important work that sheds light on a critical issue.
Box Office
As of late April 2025, there are no widely reported box office figures available for "Quiet Life (2024)." The film has had a limited theatrical release in France and Germany and has primarily been screened at international film festivals. Detailed box office data for such releases is often not made public.
Production
"Quiet Life (2024)" is a significant international co-production involving France, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Greece, and Finland. The film was directed by Greek filmmaker Alexandros Avranas, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Stavros Pamballis. It was produced by a consortium of companies from the participating countries, including Les Films du Worso and Elle Driver (France), Senator Film Produktion (Germany), Fox In The Snow Films (Sweden), Amrion (Estonia), Playground and Asterisk (Greece), and Making Movies (Finland), among others, including Arte France Cinéma. The film stars a multinational cast, with Chulpan Khamatova and Grigoriy Dobrygin in the lead roles.
Production Companies
Les Films du Worso: (Country: France) - Production company.
Elle Driver: (Country: France) - Production company.
Senator Film Produktion: (Country: Germany) - Production company.
Fox In The Snow Films: (Country: Sweden) - Production company.
Amrion: (Country: Estonia) - Production company.
Playground: (Country: Greece) - Production company.
Asterisk*: (Country: Greece) - Production company.
Making Movies: (Country: Finland) - Production company.
Arte France Cinéma: (Country: France/Germany) - Co-production company.
Additional production companies are likely involved, but their specific roles and countries were not fully detailed in the provided snippets.
Sales Companies
Elle Driver: (Country: France) - Handles the international sales for the film.
Distribution Companies
Wild Bunch Distribution: (Country: France) - Distributed the film theatrically in France.
Senator Film Köln: (Country: Germany) - Distributed the film theatrically in Germany.
Amrion: (Country: Estonia) - Distributed the film in Estonia.
BestFilm: (Country: Estonia) - Distributed the film in Estonia.
Specific distributors for other territories are being handled by Elle Driver.
Information regarding distribution in all territories is not exhaustively available.
Release Date on Streaming
As of late April 2025, there is no publicly available information regarding the release date of "Quiet Life (2024)" on streaming platforms. Streaming availability will be determined by distribution deals in various territories following its theatrical and festival runs.
Theatrical Release
"Quiet Life (2024)" had its World Premiere on August 29, 2024, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti competition. It had a theatrical release in France on January 1, 2025, distributed by Wild Bunch Distribution, and in Germany on April 24, 2025, distributed by Senator Film Köln. The film has also been screened at numerous other international film festivals and is expected to have theatrical releases in other countries following sales by Elle Driver.
Why to Recommend This Movie
Important and Timely Subject: The film sheds light on the critical issue of resignation syndrome and the challenges faced by refugees.
Powerful Performances: The lead actors deliver moving portrayals of a family in crisis.
Distinctive Directorial Style: Alexandros Avranas's minimalist and unsettling approach creates a unique and memorable viewing experience.
Thought-Provoking Narrative: The film raises important questions about bureaucracy, humanity, and the impact of systemic indifference.
Why to Watch Movie
Interest in Films About Refugee Experiences: To gain insight into the psychological and emotional toll of seeking asylum.
For Fans of Alexandros Avranas's Work: If you appreciate his specific brand of intense and stylistically controlled dramas.
To See a Film Based on a Real-Life Phenomenon: The film draws attention to the documented cases of resignation syndrome.
If You Appreciate Films That Challenge Conventional Storytelling: Avranas's approach blends genres and tones in an unconventional way.
What Movie Trend film is following
"Quiet Life" aligns with the trend of socially conscious cinema that addresses contemporary global issues, particularly the refugee crisis and its human impact. It also fits within a trend of European art-house films that utilize a minimalist or austere aesthetic to explore complex psychological and societal themes. The film's focus on a specific, lesser-known medical phenomenon also connects to a trend of narratives inspired by real-life events or conditions to shed light on broader issues. Its blend of drama with elements of thriller and satire reflects a trend of genre bending in contemporary cinema.
What Big Social Trend is following
The film directly engages with the major global social trend of forced migration and the refugee crisis. It highlights the human cost of displacement and the challenges of seeking safety and stability in new countries. The film's depiction of bureaucratic hurdles and the impact on mental health, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, also resonates with increasing societal awareness and discussion around mental wellness and the ethical responsibilities of institutions and governments in handling humanitarian issues.
Final Verdict
Alexandros Avranas's "Quiet Life (2024)" is a challenging but essential film that brings much-needed attention to the devastating effects of the asylum process and resignation syndrome. While its stark style and tonal shifts may not resonate with all viewers, the film's powerful subject matter, coupled with strong performances and Avranas's unflinching direction, makes it a significant and thought-provoking work. It successfully portrays the bureaucratic indifference and the immense psychological toll on a refugee family fighting for their child's life and their own hope. As the film continues its release and reaches wider audiences, it has the potential to spark important conversations about compassion, systemic failures, and the human cost of political and social crises.
Recommendations for Filmmakers
Address Complex and Overlooked Social Issues: Filmmakers have a powerful platform to shed light on important but less-known humanitarian concerns.
Develop a Distinctive Visual and Narrative Style: A unique artistic approach can make a difficult subject matter more impactful and memorable.
Focus on the Human Element in Societal Critiques: Even when critiquing systems, grounding the narrative in compelling human stories allows audiences to connect emotionally.
Recommendations for Movie Industry
Support Films That Tackle Challenging and Timely Subjects: Encourage the production and distribution of films that contribute to important social and political discussions.
Provide Platforms for Diverse International Voices: Ensure that films from various countries and perspectives have opportunities to reach global audiences.
Recognize the Importance of Film Festivals for Visibility: Support film festivals as crucial platforms for launching and gaining critical attention for independent and socially relevant films.
Promote Films Based on Real-Life Events with Sensitivity: When marketing films inspired by real trauma, emphasize the human stories and the importance of the underlying issues.
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