SBS On Demand
Our take
My Uncle Jens is a Norwegian comedy-drama about a teacher hosting an uncle from Kurdistan. Prime Video lists it 16+ for violence, smoking, and foul language. Dialogue includes frequent f-words, smoking indoors, drunk references, and stories of bloodshed from the uncle's past
Uplifting themes
Kindness toward family and cultural identity get gentle emphasis Akam tries to honor family duty while setting boundaries
Story (may spoil tone)
Akam, a young literature teacher, lives a comfortable life in Oslo until his estranged uncle from the Iranian part of Kurdistan comes for a surprise visit. Despite limited space in his shared flat with friends, Akam feels obligated to invite his uncle to stay for a few days. However, his uncle quickly makes himself at home and shows no sign of leaving anytime soon. Torn between his sense of familial duty and growing tension in the flat, Akam begins to suspect there's more to his uncle's visit than just a casual trip. What follows is a series of revelations and unexpected events that could have life changing consequences for them both.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Blood and gunfire appear in the uncle's war stories. A death threat is…
Blood and gunfire appear in the uncle's war stories. A death threat is voiced
Language Expect frequent strong language including multiple f-words and s-word v…
Expect frequent strong language including multiple f-words and s-word variants
Sex / nudity No sex found in this title
No sex found in this title
Drugs / alcohol Indoor smoking, past smoking references, and drunk-night dialogue come…
Indoor smoking, past smoking references, and drunk-night dialogue come up
Frightening Immigration uncertainty and violent backstory create low-key tension
Immigration uncertainty and violent backstory create low-key tension
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title
No child peril found in this title
Bullying / discrimination Racism and cultural clash spark arguments among flatmates
Racism and cultural clash spark arguments among flatmates
Gore / death / weapons Gunfire and bloody injury are described in flashback dialogue
Gunfire and bloody injury are described in flashback dialogue
Dangerous behaviour Indoor smoking and hiding a guest from authorities are plot points
Indoor smoking and hiding a guest from authorities are plot points
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Stress over deportation and family secrets weighs on the lead
Stress over deportation and family secrets weighs on the lead
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement No grief found in this title
No grief found in this title
Talk after watching
- How do families balance duty to relatives with house rules and boundaries?
- What does the film say about immigration, deportation, and belonging?