Entertainment · Film · 1 hr ago
‘Father’s House’ explores control inside a Danish religious sect
The film ‘Father’s House’ examines Faderhuset, a Danish Christian sect whose former members describe experiences of control and abuse.
The film combines reenactments with former members’ accounts, with former members helping actors recreate events from their lives.
Actress Trine Dyrholm plays Ruth, who led the sect during the 1990s, while David Dencik portrays former member Jerry Jensen.
The filmmakers say they worked to protect collaborators’ mental health while involving them in the creative process.
Faderhuset ended as a religious congregation in 2013, and its leaders and members moved abroad.
The film is set for its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and will open in Danish theaters later this month.
Father’s House is a hybrid documentary about control and manipulation in the Danish Christian sect Faderhuset.
The film combines reenactments of former members’ experiences with conversations involving former cult insiders.
Trine Dyrholm plays Ruth, who led the sect through the 1990s, and David Dencik portrays former member Jerry Jensen.
The film’s world premiere is scheduled for the Doc@PÖFF International Competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
Its creators say the production sought to explore the sect’s experiences while protecting the people involved.
- Who
- The film’s creators, actors and former Faderhuset members, including Trine Dyrholm and Jerry Jensen.
- What
- Father’s House is a hybrid documentary exploring control and manipulation in the Danish Christian sect Faderhuset.
- When
- The sect evolved into a tightly controlled community in the 1990s; it ended as a religious congregation in 2013. The film’s world premiere is scheduled for Monday evening.
- Where
- Faderhuset was in Denmark; the film’s world premiere is at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
- Why
- The film aims to examine mechanisms of control and manipulation and open a window into an abusive religious community.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Faderhuset evolved into a tightly controlled community led by Ruth.
Faderhuset ended as a religious congregation, and its leaders and members moved abroad.
Father’s House is scheduled to have its world premiere in the Doc@PÖFF International Competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
- Film
- Father’s House (Faderhuset)
- Sect
- Danish Christian sect Faderhuset
- Leader portrayed
- Trine Dyrholm plays Ruth
- Former member portrayed
- David Dencik plays Jerry Jensen
- Religious congregation ended
- 2013
1 source
What people are saying
For me, it was not about the character but more about the manipulation, the situations, the mechanisms.
This is not just a game; it’s somebody’s life. So, you need to protect people.