Gentle, beautiful, and often dreamlike, ON THE WAY TO PARADISE explores the lives of Inge and Holger Thomasen as they prepare to sell their home of many years to move into a simple flat. They have known each other since childhood and—now in their 80s—have traveled the world, raised three children and are preparing for the end of their lives.

Director Suvi Andrea Helvinen masterfully weaves the story of the Thomasens’ transition with their personal history. The Danish natives have lived in several other countries, including Brazil and India, and their home movies form a compelling visual foundation for the film. But their relationship now is at the heart of it. Their silences speak volumes and their tenderness is so plainly evident that it quietly reveals the real emotion and drama of their tale.

Helvinen has crafted a film whose narrative moves from linear to nearly free-associative while keeping touch with the central story. Her strong visual sense focuses as much on the emotional experience of the subjects as on the details of their stories. Spare and subtle, this film lets the story unfold gently, softly urging the viewer to examine the meaning of family, love, aging, togetherness, and the vicissitudes of life—illuminated by the bright example before you on the screen.

—D.B. Garland