The Innocents

During a bright Norwegian summer at a nondescript housing complex, a group of young children become friends while playing in the communal playground. Nine year old Ida is delighted when Ben, a lonely boy her age, demonstrates his powers of telekinesis. Another girl, Aisha, can read minds and soon the three of them are honing their supernatural skills unbeknown to their parents. As they become more powerful, their play takes a malevolent turn. Creepy, atmospheric and chilling, with superb performances from the young cast, The Innocents explores the sometimes dark world of childhood.

‘I think children are born without any sense of empathy or morals, we have to teach them that. That’s why I think it’s interesting to see a child doing something that we would call evil in an adult. The moral aspect is more complex since they aren’t fully formed yet. I read about a child psychology study when a small kid pokes the eye of an animal. It’s not necessarily a danger sign, kids are experimenting when they are young and empathy evolves in different rhythms. Morality begins with your parents saying what is wrong and right, but a real sense of morality should be grounded inside you, it’s what you feel is wrong.’

Eskil Vogt, Director