Bullying film prompts actor to rethink his role as a father

Danish actor Martin Greis-Rosenthal says playing the father of a bullied child in the film Over Stregen made him reflect on how he parents his own three children, DR reports.

The film follows 13-year-old Martin, who is bullied despite doing everything he can to fit in. His father, Thomas, tries to keep family life together while confronting his own childhood experiences of bullying.

Thomas often rushes to intervene rather than first listening to his son. When the boy changes schools and is bullied again, Thomas goes straight to the school office to fix the problem. Greis-Rosenthal said working on the role taught him that care and control are not the same as love.

“We cannot remove all our children’s problems, and we do not have all the answers as parents,” he said. “Sometimes they need to navigate their own reality, trusting that they can handle the challenges they face.”

The role also made Greis-Rosenthal more conscious of asking his children what they need instead of assuming he knows. He said it is important for parents to show their children that they are whole people who make mistakes, and to acknowledge those mistakes and apologise.

Over Stregen is based on a book by Ahrnt Clausen, drawing on his experience of watching his son Michael being bullied. Michael Burmester Clausen, now an adult, also appears in the film. It premiered in cinemas on November 5.