Bitch Hug

Kristin, an 18-year-old who writes for her school newspaper, keeps a big bucket list and dreams of visiting New York City. This dream colors her days and strains her relationship with her sister Linn, who dismisses her talents as pathetic. The framing idea is that the NYC trip represents more than a vacation; it's a measure of Kristin's identity.

After graduating gymnasium, Kristin is assigned to cover her upcoming trip to New York. This assignment transforms her dream into a professional goal and adds pressure to actually make the trip happen. The assignment also intertwines her fate with her personal ambitions.

At a graduation party, Kristin crosses paths with Gustav and ends up at Gustav's house in the woods for a private moment. Their plans are interrupted when Neo asks to be tucked in, changing the mood of the evening and foreshadowing the tangled dynamics to come.

Kristin meets Andrea, a 16-year-old who’s back from a nightly run. The two drink and talk, and Andrea persuades Kristin to watch 'half a movie' since Kristin has to leave for New York in two hours. The plan backfires as both fall asleep and Gustav accidentally shuts off Kristin's alarm.

In a panic, Kristin hurries toward the airport but misses the flight and returns to Andrea, who is emotionally crushed by the setback. The failed departure becomes a catalyst for hiding and deception that follows.

To avoid public humiliation, Kristin asks Andrea to hide her in Andrea's house. They move to the attic and begin forging a wary friendship to support a fake trip that would satisfy everyone’s expectations.

Kristin, Andrea, and Gustav set out to check off a thousand activities, lingering away from home. Gustav even skips his shift to help care for their younger brother Neo, showing the cost of the deception on the family.

During the journey, Gustav reveals that their parents are dead, adding gravity to their improvisation and underscoring that the children shoulder more responsibility than they anticipated. The truth reorients the trip’s purpose from adventure to coping with loss.

At a cliff overlooking the city and fjord, Andrea confesses being an orphan who quit school due to unwanted attention. Kristin learns that no one truly understands another’s inner feelings except the person themselves, highlighting the isolation each character carries.

During a midsummer party hosted by Gustav, Kristin and Andrea hide in the attic. Linn unexpectedly shows up, forcing them to flee through a roof hole and later Kristin attempts to swim the fjord, only to be briefly overwhelmed by the cold water before Andrea saves her.

Word spreads that the New York trip was a hoax, but the editor forgives the incident, noting the controversy boosted sales. He even hands Kristin a flight ticket to New York, turning the lie into a potential real journey.

Linn stages a surprise welcome-home party for Kristin after she's released from the hospital. Andrea attends in a bid to repair their bond, but Kristin remains emotionally distant and confronts Andrea over a night with Kristin's ex-boyfriend.

To mend things, Kristin buys a window to cover the attic roof’s hole and hands Andrea her diary, signaling renewed trust. She also accepts Andrea’s urging to still take the trip to New York, blurring the line between truth and deception.

The next day, Kristin and Andrea share a final hug before Kristin boards the flight to New York. On the ride to the airport, the taxi driver asks about the journey, and Andrea answers with a single, enigmatic word: 'Very.'