The film "Den, der lever stille" is an adaptation of the bestselling book by Leonora Christina Skov. The story is based on the author's own life and touches on a number of taboos and highly topical themes such as sexuality, guilt and loneliness. The novel has been at the top of the Danish bestseller lists for a full 62 weeks, has sold 120,000 copies and, not least, secured the author the book prize De Gyldne Laurbær. The film adaptation is directed by Puk Grasten, who has previously been behind the drama 37.
CHRISTINA, 22, has moved away from home, she is in love, and she has published her very first novel. Christina's MOTHER and FATHER - Mr. and Mrs. Skov - come for a visit in her new studio apartment in Copenhagen. They demand her to leave with them. They believe Christina is sick, why the three of them should move to another part of the country, where nobody knows them, so they can have a new beginning as a family. Christina does not want to come home with them as she has, finally, escaped the hellish house that her childhood home was. Christina was raised by Mother, who hated her, and Father who blamed Christina for Mother's depressive state of mind.The parents disown Christina for being abnormal. To survive the sorrow of being disowned by her parents, the quiet Christina changes her destiny by transforming into a loud and angry woman that she names LEONORA. She deletes everything from her memory about her former identity. Christina is reborn as Leonora. Leonora is based on her idol: Audrey Horne. Leonora is sensual, wild, and not afraid of anything, just like Audrey.10 years later Leonora, a public persona, is on the TV show 'Good Morning Denmark'. Leonora is a writer but is mostly known for her debates as an angry feminist that people love to hate. She is being harassed daily. On live TV Leonora's father tells her to come home. Leonora's mother is in a hospice and won't live much longer. Since it is live TV and Leonora cannot lose face, she agrees to come visit. She drives to the outskirt of Denmark where her parents moved after disowning her. Leonora's wife tries to stop her, but Leonora wants to see the witch, Mother, die.Leonora arrives to the hospice. Father is very happy to see her and surprisingly nice to her. Mother is the opposite; she wants Leonora to go back home where she belongs and forget all about them. Leonora decides to stay at the hospice to support Father during this difficult time. At the hospice, the parents have got an abnormally close relation to a GIRL, 8, whose parents are nowhere to be found. Leonora wants to find out who Girl is since Father is clearly covering up for something. The pursuit of truth leads Leonora further into Father's secret agenda.Mother warns Leonora about Father: he wants Leonora to move back home to take over Mother's place as 'Mrs Skov'. Father convinces Leonora that Mother is paranoid and not clear in the head. Mental illness runs in Mother's side of the family. Father reveals that when Leonora was a baby, Mother tried to kill her. She wanted to put the baby in the oven. Since then, he has done everything to protect his wife and daughter. Father came from a home filled with alcohol abuse, why creating his own family means everything to him. Leonora sympathizes with Father.Mother dies. Leonora agrees to go home with Father. He has re-created her childhood home, where also the Girl from the hospice lives. Father calls the Girl, not by name but by 'Daughter' like he used to do with Leonora. Leonora doubts her own sanity, when she realizes that the Girl is Christina: herself as a child. Leonora is afraid that she is sick like Mother. Father comforts her and tells her that he will protect her. He has always been aware that Leonora has inherited Mother's mental illness. Leonora is trapped in Father's plan to be the new 'Mrs. Skov' in the recreated childhood home. Father has obtained his dream: once again they are a trinity: Mr and Mrs Skov and the Daughter. A normal-looking family.At home, Father recreates old memories through home videos. He has documented everything throughout Leonora's childhood. By reliving her old memories, Leonora finds the truth - Mother was kept sick by Father, who refused to get outside help in fear of breaking normality and letting the world know that everything is not as perfect as it looks like. Father sacrificed Mother in his pursuit of a normal family, and now he does the same with Leonora. Leonora must break the circle if she wants to escape her predestined fate and be free. She must do what Mother failed in doing. She must kill the Daughter to break free from the house.
