Chemo Brain

Twenty-eight-year-old Oliver spends his time studying, hanging out with friends, and trying to charm his new girlfriend, Signe, when he finds out that his lower-back pain is actually testicular cancer. Rapidly shifting from mindless living to becoming a hospital regular, chemotherapy sets him on a path of introspection. Welcome distraction, if minimal nurturing, comes via his best friend, his father, and fellow patient Eva, who is facing her own diagnosis with flair. Oliver struggles between maintaining his happy-go-lucky toehold in the life he shaped for himself and honing in on what will ultimately be best for him in the world he has been thrust into. Danish filmmaker Kristian Håskjold crafts this story with an intimate touch, bringing to light a diagnosis that is a dark reality for many. Drawing out the authenticity of a specific experience, he’s created a journey rich with relatable interactions, unexpected physical and emotional revelations, and a quiet reflection on life. (Sundance Film Festival)