The Mystery Package

For the past 22 years, a mysterious package arrives every year at grandparent’s house right in time for Christmas – with presents for the whole family. Nobody knows who sends it. This year, grandchildren Edle (9) and her brother Brage (6) decide to solve the mystery. They collect evidence, interview family members and neighbours, and follow the clues to the coastal town of Arendal, Norway. During their quest they discover that the arrival of the first package coincided with a painful loss buried deep in the family’s memory. Edle and Brage are filmed and accompanied on their journey by their mother, filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen. Without knowing the answer to the mystery, she allows herself to be guided by the children’s curiosity. Quickly, the reality captured in this documentary takes on the magic of a fictional Christmas adventure. The audience watches with bated breath, while at the same time witnessing a thoughtful exploration of how shared joy and shared mourning bring a family together.