SAFE

Six-year-old Ronja is having her eighth therapy session with Katinka. The little girl puts on makeup and plays dress-up and explains to her therapist what she thinks is important when it comes to men. Without judging her behavior, Katinka lets Ronja do as she pleases, mirroring her confusing feelings back to her. Ronja bounces back and forth between wanting to imitate an adult woman and wanting to suck on a baby bottle, to be held by her mother.

Katinka experiences one disappointment after another in her relationship with Michael, a married physician. Tom’s 15-year-old daughter Hanna announces she is coming for a visit. Lunchtime offers a chance for socializing. Eight-year-old Jonas comes to see Tom for the first time with his parents. The boy’s father is dealing with terminal cancer, and Jonas is severely impacted by it. He is unable to concentrate and sinks into feelings of deep sadness more and more often.

Tense and wary, Sam shows up for his second therapy session. Tom realizes that Sam wants to accept his help, but is trapped in his own defenses. Sam was caught stealing and was reported to the authorities. His foster mother Claudia is disappointed in him. Tom offers to help, and the therapist is able to communicate to the boy that all people are capable of determining their own fate themselves through their actions.