Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: MY UNCLE JENS [SXSW Film 2025 - Austin, Texas]
The aspect of refugee rights and immigration is obviously a very combative subject in today's America which is why a movie like "My Uncle Jens" [Narrative Feature Competition] told from a European experience is refreshing but also shows the context of an ever-changing world. Akam (Peiman Azizpour) is formerly from Kuristan and has settled in Norway. His mother lives in the country as well but in the country while he is based in Oslo. One day an estranged uncle named Khdr (Hamza Agoshi) shows up out of nowhere [though he tells others his name is Jens from a cab driver he met]. The context of the culture clash is interesting because the way of how Akam must treat family is different from the roommates in his collective apartment who try to understand but in many ways can't. Khdr, as a character, has alot of humor to him but it is utterly misled in certain ways because obviously he is lying about certain aspects of his life. This is why it is hard, at times, to feel for Akam since he lets it go on so long even those Khdr has a good reason.
There is the conversation of "why?" with Akam's life and why he doesn't have a girlfriend. When he does start seeing a girl, who oddly enough works for the immigration authority, the path of Akam's cover up takes the expected route. What is interesting that keys into it is Khdr's pride especially when he is dealing with other ex-pats from that Iranian part of Iraq who are now legally living in Norway. The idea of the people versus the plight of the soldiers is an intriquing question which nevertheless leads to the film's best scene where Agoshi lays out his heart. It is matter of fact scene but it makes the whole movie make sense. This kind of story, if it is told with reality - while adding some humor - only works if the result is real in certain ways. "My Uncle Jens" tells a timely story from a different perspective....one that needs to be told but one that is different for every single person and country. This is just the Norwegian way but the importance of checks and balances - in the current state of things - is always important. B
By Tim Wassberg
