Hercules Falling

Christian Bonke took part in LIM | Less is More in 2023 for the development of his first fiction feature film, “Hercules Falling”, a psychological drama. The shooting of the film took place in the Summer 2024, starring Dar Salim.

Synopsis

Youssef (44), a former soldier whose mental health has been worn thin by years of war, has moved away from his wife and son because of his uncontrollable temper. At a veterans’ refuge on the Danish island of Strynø, he is thrown into a soul-searching journey as he struggles to rebuild his shattered life.
Youssef slowly begins to accept his vulnerability as he connects with other veterans and dedicates himself to therapy. As he improves, he becomes fully committed to winning back his family and returning to the man he once was. But mending the bonds proves difficult as he returns home and then realises that he can never fully recover and has damaged his loved ones for good. Now his hopes for the future are splintered. All he has left is the military brotherhood and suddenly going back to war seems like a last resort. But is he ready to fully let go of his son?

Intentions

HERCULES FALLING is the story of a man struggling with his shattered self-image. A man who has been destroyed and changed forever but is struggling to acknowledge it. My background in documentary filmmaking permeates this story, evident both in the narrative and the method. During my research, I found an amazing place; a retreat for war veterans, offering these once strong men a sanctuary to navigate the labyrinth of their souls and rediscover their innermost selves. Within this setting, I placed an actor, Dar Salim, endowing him with a backstory, a problem, and some additional constraints. The place and the veterans are real, and reality will therefore constantly give us gifts and provide us with an authentic nerve.
In these years, war seems like a necessary evil in exchange for our freedom. But we have yet to grasp the consequences of sending our young people into the field of war. They risk so much more than just losing their lives…