Synopsis
THE BENCH is a film that chronicles the intertwined lives of six characters. These six people are all in a state of flux waiting for life to happen to them, all waiting on .....THE BENCH.The backdrop is a suburb of Copenhagen where Kaj pays his daily visit to THE BENCH. He is an alcoholic who spends most of his time with his fellow drinking buddy Stig spewing a never ending stream of moans and complaints, waiting to die.
This pattern is interrupted when Kaj becomes aware that the young woman moving into the building across the street is his daughter Liv whom he has not seen in 19 years. Liv is not aware of this connection and thus puts Kaj in a perplexing position. He is confronted with his past which he would rather forget and therefore must find the strength to confront it or turn his back an it.
Liv is a single mother with a six year old son, Jonas. She has just escaped from her abusive husband Lars and is forced to rent a single room for her and her son in the apartment of Kim who has numerous emotional problems.
At first, Kaj does not reveal his identity to Liv, but the fates are as work as he is forced to take care of Jonas and a friendship blossoms between them. Through this friendship Kaj leams of Liv' s violent relationship with Lars who still threatens her. Kaj must choose between closing his eyes or saving his daughter and grandson from a relationship that threatens to destroy them.
THE BENCH is a film about a man given a second chance at life, but in order to see the light he must come face to face with his dark past.
