Birthday on AllMovie

A day of celebration takes an unexpected turn in this short drama from writer and director Jenifer Malmqvist. Sara (Asa Karlin) and Katarina (Lotten Roos) are a lesbian couple who share their home with their young daughter Johanna (Liva Leijnse Elkjaer). Katarina's birthday is coming up, and Sara plans a special surprise party for her with the help of her friend Fredrik (August Lindmark). Sara, Johanna and Fredrik are full of excitement when the big day arrives, but before the party begins Katarina breaks some unwelcome news to Sara which makes it difficult for her to enjoy the festivities. Fodelsedag (aka Birthday) was Malmqvist's thesis film, produced as she received her degree at the Polish National Film School; it was also her second short film to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival, following I Fred (aka Peace Talk), which was shown at the festival in 2007.