Don't Call Me Mama

Eva, a popular high school teacher and the wife of the mayor, falls in love with Amir, a young refugee. A secret relationship develops between them, one whose consequences could be devastating for them both.

Calm fjords conceal dark depths… A provocative and unsettling romance exploring privilege, power, and cynical selfishness disguised as selflessness. Forty-eight-year-old Eva is not only a beloved teacher, but also the wife of the mayor of a picturesque Norwegian town. In an effort to support his election campaign, she volunteers at a refugee center, where she meets Amir, an eighteen-year-old refugee with a gift for poetry. Eva is captivated by Amir’s talent. She offers him support and even invites him to move into their home. As her marriage falls into crisis, Eva and Amir grow dangerously close. The psychological drama by debut director Nina Knag premiered in the main competition at the 2025 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where leading actress Pia Tjelta won the Best Actress Award.

Film rating Not suitable for audiences under 15

Genre Drama

Country / Year / Running time Norway 2025 108 min (Alternative version: 101 min)

Director: Nina Knag

Screenplay: Nina Knag, Kathrine Valen Zeiner

Cinematography: Alvilde Horjen Naterstad

Music: Olav Øyehaug

Cast: Pia Tjelta, Tarek Zayat, Kristoffer Joner, Kathrine Thorborg Johansen, Ragnhild Gudbrandsen, Benjamin Ebbesen, Andreas Søfteland Milde, Njål Lambrechts