SXSW 25' My Uncle Jens Unveils the Humor and Heart of Family Ties - movie review

Akam’s unexpected reunion with his uninvited uncle in My Uncle Jens delivers laughter and deep emotion.

Family is complicated. No matter where you’re from, the ties that bind us to our relatives can be everything from hilarious to frustrating, secretive, and even a little absurd. In Brwa Vahabpour’s My Uncle Jens, a young man finds himself at the mercy of familial obligations when his estranged uncle shows up at his door unannounced. But there’s more to this unexpected visit than meets the eye. What does he want? Why is he here? These questions unravel in a rollercoaster of surprising and heartfelt moments, reminding us that no matter how far we try to distance ourselves, family always finds a way back in.

Peiman Azizpour stars as Akam, a Kurdish man living a quiet, independent life in Oslo. His world is upended when his uncle Khdr (Jens), played by Hamza Agoshi, suddenly appears on his doorstep. Unable to turn him away, Akam is immediately pulled back into the traditions and expectations he has long tried to escape. Khdr is the quintessential uninvited guest—seemingly harmless yet entirely disruptive. His presence slowly starts to seep into Akam’s daily life, intertwining with his two flatmates, Pernille (Theresa Frostad Eggesbø) and Stian (Magnus Lysbakken), in ways that are both amusing and invasive.

The best moments in My Uncle Jens stem from the cultural and generational divide between Akam and Khdr. Watching Khdr attempt to navigate his nephew’s modern lifestyle is both comical and endearing, especially for anyone familiar with Iranian or Kurdish family dynamics. There’s a universal relatability to elders struggling to understand a younger generation that prioritizes independence and personal choice over tradition. But beneath the humor, My Uncle Jens also explores much deeper themes—ones rooted in political turmoil and the difficult realities of displacement. It highlights the struggles of those who leave war-torn countries behind, the sacrifices made to start over, and the weight of the past that never fully disappears.

My Uncle Jens made me laugh, but it also made me want to call my mother—proof of the film’s emotional range. It carries a bold and deeply personal narrative, one that resonates long after the credits roll. Even for someone familiar with these communities, I found myself learning and reflecting on the intricacies of family, identity, and belonging. With stunning cinematography and standout performances from Azizpour and Agoshi, My Uncle Jens is a surprising and unexpectedly touching comedy. And yet, I’m still left wondering—what was the rug for?

3.5/5

My Uncle Jens

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Brwa Vahabpour

STARRING Peiman Azizpour, Hamza Agoshi, Sarah Francesca Brænne, Theresa Frostad Eggesbø, Magnus Lysbakken, Emir Hakki, Mohamed Chakiri