Tjuvheder

Drifters talks about compassion and human bonding while giving you a picture of the opposite that's prevalent in the nether part of Stockholm where people are just going by through petty jobs. People who do not have a home, do not have permanent jobs, do not have anything that a regular citizen would have, and above that, are being hawked by the authorities for being anti-social. It is gritty in a way that does not involve any action or blood but makes you think about all the people in the world who are living daily off nothing. It also shows why people turn into drug peddlers and what compassion means in the face of danger. Central actor Malin Levanon puts up a show that is as magnificent as the turn of events in Drifters, a film that is just about essential to watch but not a masterpiece. TN.

(Watched and reviewed at the 24th European Union Film Festival (EUFF India) in Mumbai.)

Amazing performance from the lead actress Malin Levanon. Good original script (Peter Gronlund) and music (Johan Testad). A remarkable debut film of Swedish director Peter Gronlund with creditable casting of actors including real drug peddlers. A film that deals with the importance of bonding for the mutual benefit of several character pairs at various stages of the script. Is it only short-term bonding, is the moot question the audience has to answer.

Tjuvheder (or Drifters for the English title) is watchable but I've not been wowed by it. The cast consists of a lot of people that clearly had that kind of life they're playing in the movie, drug addicts and homeless people. They did a good job though, I guess they just acted like they normally act in real life. Because that's basically what this movie is, a sort of documentary of the hard street life, a drama where it's hard to leave from once you're going down that spiral. Every big city has its addicts, we've all seen them before, and if you never witnessed it just watch this movie because it's tragically the same.

Impeccable writing from Peter Grönlund, with an impressive authenticity in the dialogues. Grönlund's direction is so determined and good, it's hard to believe it's his debut. Malin Levanon is amazing in the lead - and Lo Kauppi is great too.

I switched on expecting to see something gritty and heartfelt.

This is more like a documentary about a load of thieving, nomadic kinds who choose not to get a job and contribute.

Nothing happens at all. Talk about drugs, drink, more drugs. Then drugs again. Boring nonsense.