Winter Stories

An unforgiving Oslo winter sets the tone for these intense tales of life on the margins by Rishøi (Brightly Shining). In “We Can’t Help Everyone,” a five-year-old girl fails to understand the repercussions of giving her mother’s last kroners to a homeless person. The situation becomes more dire when the girl wets her pants, forcing her mother to consider shoplifting a pair of underwear from a department store. “The Right Thomas” follows the title character’s effort to reenter society after a short prison stint. In flashbacks, Rishøi reveals that Thomas has a young son, who was conceived before his incarceration during a one-night stand. Now, Thomas wishes he can be a good father. In “Siblings,” 17-year-old Rebekah grapples with the consequences of her mother’s bipolar disorder. After intercepting a letter from Child Welfare Services stating that she, her four-year-old brother, and her seven-year-old sister will be taken away, she sets out to hide with them in a remote cottage, underestimating the difficult trek in the cold. Throughout, the author imbues the gut-punching slice-of-life scenarios with rich emotions. This devastates. Agent: Karin Ekblom, Paloma Agency. (Dec.)