Au Pair, Kansas

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Aug 22 2013

In this winning and wholesome comedic family drama, Traci Lords stars as Helen, a single mother from Kansas who owns and manages a buffalo farm. She is still grieving the death of her husband Charlie (Stephen O'Mahoney). The couple were more like best friends than lovers. Charlie was gay, but conflicted about his sexuality. He married Helen, and they produced two sons, Atticus and Beau (Spencer Daniels and Kendall Ryan Sanders).

In her alone time, Helen still has imaginary conversations with Charlie, unable to let go of his spirit. Nevertheless, he is gone and the practicalities of running a farm and raising two children are daunting. Helen is in need of a little help. She hires Oddmund (Håvard Lilleheie), a Norwegian soccer player who travels to America through an international au pair program.

A handsome, enthusiastic young man, Oddmund cuts past some initial friction and charms his way into the family while unintentionally stirring up a wealth of intrigue and gossip within their small town. Though trustworthy and well-intentioned, Oddmund's understanding of American social taboos is severely underdeveloped. A simple misunderstanding soon snowballs into a scandal when the locals begin to suspect that his relationship with Atticus might be less than pure. Soon, it is up to Helen and her sons to stand up for their new family friend and clear his name.

With a gorgeous rural setting and an endless selection of hilarious one-liners, Au Pair, Kansas, like its eponymous character, aims to win your heart and succeeds with aplomb.

By: Amos Lassen

"Au Pair, Kansas" has been making quite a bit of noise and has gotten some very good reviews. It is a dramatic comedy about a young widow who lives on a buffalo ranch is central Kansas and hires a Norwegian soccer player as a male au pair to help her raise on her two sons. Traci Lords is the widow, Helen, and is having a hard time without her husband. The story is intricate but it slowly unfolds with both drama and comedy. Now that her husband is gone, Helen begins to wonder if he ever loved her and if he did why did he check out so soon? She hires a male Norwegian au pair, Oddmund (Havard Lilleheie); because she knows that she cannot raise her boys alone. The film deals with loss and coming to terms with it.

Oddmund is obsessed with soccer and he bonds with the boys by using it. Helen, however, has suspicions about him. An interesting character is Helen's dead husband who appears as a ghost or on video tape.



Amos Lassen

"Au Pair, Kansas" has been making quite a bit of noise and has gotten some very good reviews. It is a dramatic comedy about a young widow who lives on a buffalo ranch is central Kansas and hires a Norwegian soccer player as a male au pair to help her raise on her two sons. Traci Lords is the widow, Helen, and is having a hard time without her husband. The story is intricate but it slowly unfolds with both drama and comedy. Now that her husband is gone, Helen begins to wonder if he ever loved her and if he did why did he check out so soon? She hires a male Norwegian au pair, Oddmund (Havard Lilleheie); because she knows that she cannot raise her boys alone. The film deals with loss and coming to terms with it.

Oddmund is obsessed with soccer and he bonds with the boys by using it. Helen, however, has suspicions about him. An interesting character is Helen's dead husband who appears as a ghost or on video tape.

By: rjh