Written by Nik Mohan & Alexandra Paszek

Writer and director Lovisa Sirén boldy explores intimacy within motherhood, showcasing these themes from a mother’s perspective. The film centers on Esther (Medea Strid), a young mother navigating the emotional rupture of separation as she entrusts the care of her daughter, Kelly, to her former partner for the first time.

‘Without Kelly’ (in Swedish: ‘Utan Kelly’) follows Esther as she falls into a state of longing and emotional desperation, moving through a single night in search of solace, meaning, and some fragile means of preserving what she holds close. The film presents an uncompromising examination of young motherhood, articulated through a deliberately spare narrative structure.

The film’s brisk pacing operates as both strength and fault. While its economy sharpens the immediacy of Esther’s experience, the absence of narrative context can at times make emotional identification more demanding. A slightly extended runtime may have afforded greater depth to Esther’s characterisation and strengthened the film’s lingering resonance. But, offering a nuanced and affective portrait of inner turmoil without didactic exposition is welcomed.

This is entirely thanks to Medea Strid’s intriguing performance — bringing a raw, unguarded portrayal of Esther to carry the entire narrative. Her actions and facial expressions can create altering motives and feelings; a suitable fit for the film’s themes of longing and isolation.

The film’s narrative unpredictability is particularly compelling, conveyed through Esther’s impulsive and bodily choices as she seeks fleeting intimacy to anesthetise her loneliness. Writer-director Lovisa Sirén demonstrates a clear and confident authorial vision, capturing the emotional devastation of a young mother grappling with an irrevocable, uncomfortable separation.

The film’s conclusion is understated to the point of restraint, offering little in the way of conventional resolution or discernible character transformation. Yet this lack of closure may itself be thematically appropriate. Esther’s motivations remain complex and unresolved, leaving the audience to contemplate the emotional realities of maternal separation and the female experience of loss beyond linear narrative arcs.

‘Without Kelly’ is captivating work that casts an unflinching light on a woman’s yearning for connection after being separated from her child. Anchored by a great central performance and Sirén’s cinematic restraint, the film’s minimalist narrative occasionally limits its scope, but its affective power is undeniable. Though the story unfolds seemingly without direct motivation, it results in a suitable meditation on motherhood and absence.

‘Without Kelly’ score: ★★★☆☆

‘Without Kelly’ won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, and is currently building anticaption for its Sundance premiere on January 24, 2026.

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