Zappa Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Zappa Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 7, 2025

Before director Bille August when big with international successes such as 1987’s “Pelle the Conqueror,” and eventually went Hollywood with 1993’s “The House of the Spirits,” 1997’s “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” and 1998’s “Les Misérables,” he was invested in making pictures about the ways of adolescence. An adaptation of a Bjarne Reuter novel, “Zappa” examines a troubling year for three students engaged in various criminal activities while navigating their different home lives. It’s not a gentle sit, as darkness is present throughout the endeavor, putting August and Reuter to work on a screenplay that makes sense of personal lives and social demands, also investigating the trials of pubescent interests and difficult relationships. “Zappa” isn’t hysterical work, staying introspective and a bit menacing at times as it surveys volatile emotions, successfully depicting the confusion of a strange time when childhood transforms into adulthood.

Bjorn (Adam Tonsberg) is a young teen in 1961 trying to make his way through the world. He has a friend in Steen (Peter Reichhardt), who’s struggling with his broken family, electing to form a “gang” with Bjorn as they explore misbehavior during the school year. Mulle (Morten Hoff) is a good kid who wants in on the action, putting Steen in a position of power he immediately abuses, testing the new addition’s loyalty. The leader organizes criminal activities to help fund their misadventures, but the boys eventually go too far when targeting the owner of an ice cream shop. As summer break arrives, Bjorn finds some distance from Steen, redirecting his energies to the pursuit of local girls, including Kirsten (Ulrikke Bondo), who grows to care about him. As the months pass, Steen is plunged deeper into distress by his parents and their issues, looking to take out his anger on others, forcing Bjorn to reconsider the relationships in his life.

Parental influence plays an important part in “Zappa.” The writing is careful to understand the domestic experiences facing the three boys, with Bjorn and Mulle raised by caring guardians who show some concern for the well-being of their children. Steen is dealing with the impending breakup of his mother and father, with the latter moving on to other female company, while the former immerses herself in self-care and meditation, shutting down the outside world. Steen is basically on his own, save for his pet fish Zappa, and the feature develops the toxicity of this isolation, putting the character on a path of self-destruction he doesn’t recognize. Steen is an agitator and cruel bully, often working to make life miserable for Mulle, but “Zappa” is Bjorn’s story, tracking the teen’s development as he takes on mental and physical challenges while entering a new phase of his life.

Gang life is woven throughout “Zappa,” watching Steen organize crimes around the community, including housing break-ins to collect easy cash. Trouble escalates when Steen targets an older woman who runs an ice cream shop, pulling Bjorn and Mulle into a plan that’s dangerous and violent, escalating a way of thinking for the leader, who’s losing interest in acting humanely. “Zappa” gets some tension out of the worsening situation, but the material also wants to follow Bjorn through his development, extending to time with interested girls, feeling the rush of mutual attraction. Sexuality plays a part in “Zappa,” but August and Reuter are mostly interested in the changing ways of teendom, following Bjorn as he gradually recognizes Steen’s destructive behavior, putting him in a difficult situation of allegiance to a kid that’s losing control. Additional difficulties are found with Steen and his gang, which adds a few greaser types while Bjorn is away, generating a defined separation of lives the writing details successfully.

Zappa Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.67:1 aspect ratio) for "Zappa" offers healthy detail throughout the viewing experience. Period details are textured, including fibrous costuming and hairstyles. Skin particulars are appreciable. Interiors maintain dimension as the picture visits various living spaces and the school setting. Exteriors are deep. Color is sharp, with a rich sense of greenery and period style. Primaries are crisp, and exotic lighting choices are defined. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavier and film-like. Source is in good condition, with some visible hairs.

Zappa Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers defined dialogue exchanges, picking up on delicate emotionality and what appears to be some type of processing on Steen, whose voice sounds electronically lowered to help reinforce his pubescent ways. Musical offerings are crisp. Atmospherics are appreciable, exploring school activity and nature visits.

Zappa Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (31:06, HD) is a conversation with director Bille August, who discusses his journey to author Bjarne Reuter, who captured the experience of adolescence at a time when the concept of the "teenager" really started to take shape. Responding to the characterization and dramatic possibilities of Reuter's writing, August began work on an adaptation of "Zappa," developing a viable screenplay before launching a casting search, tasked with the management of children, trying to figure out such a professional challenge. Focus is turned to star Adam Tonsberg, who was a newcomer to the business, going on to star in "Twist and Shout." The use of violence is analyzed, with August looking to confront certain emotional and physical realities. Talk turns to "Twist and Shout," as August and Reuter wanted to continue their interest in formative years, interested in exploring new characters and psychological challenges. The interviewee compares the tonal differences between the two movies, hunting for "texture" with different tales of maturation and truth. And technical achievements are noted, including work on musical scenes for "Twist and Shout."

• "Secrets in the Soul: The Coming-of-Age Films of Bille August" (10:48, HD) is a video essay by Jordan Cronk.

• And a Compilation Trailer (1:46, HD) is included.

Zappa Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Zappa" doesn't turn Steen into a villain. There's a lot more going on with the teen that's driving his choices, and the picture takes time to examine his issues while maintaining his position as a bad influence. Sharp scenes of anger with his cheating father and reminders of Steen's true age are vividly captured in the movie, helping to understand his state of distress, even when he organizes viciousness, especially against Mulle, who makes the mistake of coming from a loving home, dealing gently with others, including his pet bird. "Zappa" manages to get into these young minds with skill, trusting in silent reflection and responses to extract a decent amount of drama out of the crisis. The endeavor isn't always as tightly focused as it could be, and it feels a little too episodic, but August and Reuter are invested in the personalities and the challenges of their lives, taking concerns seriously. Casting is also impressive, as August works with an assortment of newcomers to explore troubling psychological spaces facing the players. Acting is fresh and as real as possible, which adds so much to the offering and its pursuit of genuine emotions during a time of great change in the lives of young, vulnerable people.