AllMovie

Norwegian writer/director Margreth Olin makes her feature debut with this deeply personal drama tracing a troubled young girl's descent into addiction. Originally conceived as a documentary, Angel centers on the story of Lea, whose peaceful life was forever changed following the untimely death of her beloved father. Shortly thereafter, Lea's mother Madeline reignites the romance with her old flame Ole, an abusive alcoholic whose influence over the young girl proves profoundly damaging. As the situation in the household gradually deteriorates, the roles of mother and daughter begin to invert. But the burden of caring for her mother takes a heavy toll on the crestfallen teen, and in time Lea turns to heroin as a means of escaping her problems. When Lea gives birth to her own daughter, she begins to notice the early warning signs of a troubling pattern.