Swedish cinema has largely dipped over the previous 20 years due to the expansion of several internationally successful TV series, stars and directors heading for Hollywood, along with a certain identity crisis following the passing of Ingmar Bergman.
This short, slightly Bergmanesque movie from 2011 has recently been pushed on Netflix so I gave it a watch. Despite no recognisable stars, limited location shooting and a slow, darkish feel the film does work on a basic level. It's the storyline that was always going to cause problems for the viewing public. Some may find it somewhat taboo, weird or even disturbing and disgusting, others, boring or unrealistic. Whatever your views, on one level this is a tragic love story which I personally believe is not entirely unrealistic; on another, it does pose some questions about morality, a certain emotional emptiness and sparseness of direction.
It cannot be classed as an Arthouse film, although it sometimes would like to swing in that direction. The two main characters, Anna and Johann are two ordinary people plunged into a nightmare situation that they both try to deal with in their own, individual way. They are both vulnerable, depressed and with other partners. This is a slow burning relationship that develops organically - but obviously heading for disaster from the start.
The movie is slow, dark and depressive at times, despite some almost forced happy scenes between the couple. This overall black mood is in line with the script, however, some of the acting is fairly amateurish at times. Worth a watch for the individualistic script.
