On a repatriation flight from Denmark to Afghanistan, a doctor finds her commitment to the Hippocratic oath tested by a violent immigration system. After being cruelly outed to his whole school, a young student seeks comfort in the company of his English teacher. At a funeral, a pregnant newlywed questions her husband’s mysterious past. In an AirBnb owned by a conservative eavesdropper, two married strangers begin an affair. And on a beach day that proves to be much more, the bond between mother and daughter is tested. Each of these five tales delves into differing aspects of care, deception, and love that come together to form a tender and true portrait of trust in modern relationships.

Annette K. Olesen’s spellbinding romantic drama manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats without any thrills or chills. By splicing her stories in between one another, she seamlessly connects the thematic undercurrents of each self-contained story while teasing the deeper truths hidden behind smiles and small gestures. Trust is at the heart of this short story collection, but whether each of Olesen’s characters earn or deserve that is a question she encourages you to ruminate on long after the film’s credits roll. A moving, unpredictable, and deeply felt assemblage of powerful narratives, A Matter of Trust provides a showcase for its ensemble cast’s impressive talents while digging into the fabric of human connection. —Frederic Boyer

Anette K. Olesen, Annette K. Olesen, and Annette K Olesen