The central character in White Night is Ulrich, an ethically dubious estate agent. Drinking with friends in a bar one night, he is approached by an aggressive, clumsy drunk; upon pushing him away, the drunk falls awkwardly and sustains a fatal head injury. With the help of his brother, a successful lawyer, Ulrich avoids being charged with any crime and, a few hours in custody aside, is free to resume his life. But things don't go back to normal as he starts to become deeply troubled by a sense of guilt, which puts his career, relationship and friendships in jeopardy as he struggles to come to terms with the fact that he has taken someone's life.
From here, the plot moves in unexpected directions as we gradually learn the roots of Ulrich's behaviour. The stereotypical estate agent we are introduced to at the outset, manipulating a young couple into a poor property investment, becomes incrementally more rounded and sympathetic as his psychological nature is given more context. This unpredictable narrative is engaging throughout.
The excellent, assured script doesn't waste a scene from the opening moment to a memorable closing shot, and Lars Bryggman perfectly captures Ulrich's descent into torment. The result is a powerful film that stays long in the memory.
From here, the plot moves in unexpected directions as we gradually learn the roots of Ulrich's behaviour. The stereotypical estate agent we are introduced to at the outset, manipulating a young couple into a poor property investment, becomes incrementally more rounded and sympathetic as his psychological nature is given more context. This unpredictable narrative is engaging throughout.
The excellent, assured script doesn't waste a scene from the opening moment to a memorable closing shot, and Lars Bryggman perfectly captures Ulrich's descent into torment. The result is a powerful film that stays long in the memory.