LARS IS LOL

Synopsis

When Amanda starts the school year, hopelessly in love with her classmate Adam, she is chosen to be the special buddy for the new boy in class, Lars — who has Down syndrome.

Amanda hates the task. She doesn’t want to stick out in any way, and doesn’t want to have anything to do with Lars. He’ll only embarrass her in front of everybody — especially Adam. But to Amandas surprise, when she gets to know Lars, they develop a unique friendship, with their own fun and playful fantasy world.

In her secret friendship with Lars, Amanda is free of peer pressure and can be herself. But when she discovers that the cool girls in class have a viral bullying blog with pictures and memes of Lars, Amanda ends up betraying Lars in her struggle to fit in. When Amanda’s betrayal is exposed, she looses Lars and all her friends.

Now a social outcast, Amanda begins the fight for forgiveness. To make things right and regain her friendship with Lars, Amanda will have to find the strength to stick out and be different. But will Lars ever forgive her? And are her chances with Adam spoiled forever?

Statement of the director(s)

LARS IS LOL is a film for children and grown-ups about the value of diversity, embracing one's individuality, and the significance of finding the courage to be one’s authentic self. It tells a story about friendship, identity, love, and imagination, exploring topics such as the causes and consequences of bullying, the fear of standing out, and how difficult it can be to do what one believes is right.

With LARS IS LOL I have aimed to create a film that takes children seriously — a film with artistic ambitions and a cinematic language that is personal, expressive, playful, and fantastical. I have wanted to give the audience a cinematic experience that is both entertaining and deeply heartfelt, where both humor and seriousness find their place, alongside all the strong emotions that accompany our lives, especially during our journey of growing up.