A Lake on AllMovie

The balance of a tight-knit family is thrown off by the arrival of a wandering lumberjack in this drama from artist and filmmaker Philippe Grandrieux. Alexi (Dmitry Kubasov) is a woodcutter struggling with epilepsy in a snowbound community in the North. Alexi lives a secluded life with his family, who are his only companions -- his father Christiann (Vitaly Kischenko), mother Liv (Simona Huelsemann) and siblings Hege (Natalie Rehorova) and Johannes (Arthur Semay). Sister Hege is Alexi's closest confidante, and they're both curious when a stranger named Jurgen (Alexei Solonchev) appears at their door, asking for permission to clear some trees on their property. Alexi doesn't know what to make of Jurgen, but Hege is fascinated by the handsome drifter, and finds herself strongly attracted to him. When Alexi sees Hege kissing Jurgen, it sends him into an emotional tailspin as he must confront the possibility that his sister may choose to leave the house and live a life of her own. Un Lac (aka A Lake) was an official selection at the 2008 Venice Film Festival.