Farväl Falkenberg

As is said in another comment you can not be told whether you will like this film or not. You need to have something in your past or present that helps you enter this group and understand or feel the things that are left unspoken... and that is much. But if you have that, this film is rewarding, tragic, beautiful and painful. Very good!

The minimal form of the film is perfect for the on the surface minimal story. But as any minimal art the content is there, but you will need to do at least half of the work of finding it. I enjoy that kind of film, and since I am able to relate to the story a great deal, this film was perfect for me!

Internationally known as "Falkenberg Farewell" this film deals with a number of friends that get together for a last time during the summer that bridges their lives between playful old children and young responsible adults. Still having nothing to do but hang about and do whatever they feel like they have one last breath of total freedom before the harness of the daily rut takes them and binds them.

Starting with a short description of the main characters the film rolls slowly but steadily. When it is clear what everyone does and where everyone is going to it starts telling its actual story and it must be said: that is done a little messy. It looks like it tries to go in all directions at once and ends up staying right in the middle because of it. While it is clear about the message it wants to give off, it is far less clear about the way it revolves around the characters.

I wasn't really impressed with this film. Partly because I saw it during a film festival where it was surrounded by much better films, partly because it was so messy that it was hard to get into.

6 out of 10 summers ending

I watched this without any expectations and was drawn in after some time. It has a very special vibe that I think might resonate more with people sharing the childhood-friendship-from-a-small-place-thing. The acting is effortless and makes the movie natural in the sense that you're tagging along a group and their conversations without really watching a film.

Don't expect a classic movies-movie if you know what I mean, this is more an artsy way of telling a story, and in contrast with another review I didn't find it artsy in a pretentious way at all. There's a lot of heart going in to this film and it touches upon the unspoken things under the surface, the frustrations of coming back where nothing moves forward and the comfort from the same phenomenon. A special film that left me feeling a little unease in a good way, looking back on life and reflecting on relationships in general.

There is a lot of things about this film that I didn't understand. There is no clear sense of direction, no understanding of motive in the characters. It reminds me of Terance Malik's "The Thin Red Line" (although they are very different).

But one thing I know for certain is that when I left the theater I was in a totally different state of mind then when I entered it. I felt calm and relaxed. This is why I voted 9/10 because not many films can do this.

And also reminded me of that period in life just between childhood and being an adult, that limbo where you are free, don't feel the obligations of the grown-up world but still with the sense not being a child.

Finally a Swedish Oscar contribution I can be proud of as a Swede.

How on earth were these guys given funds to make this movie? The lack of script is one thing, but the cinematography makes you want to weep. A hand held camera can be of great value to the look and feel of a movie but in that case you need a photographer who knows what he is doing. I am well aware that the actors are amateurs but it's of no defence since the director might be the least talented one ever directing in Sweden. It would be a shame for the industry if he (or any in the team for that matter) is given money to make a film ever again. This movie simply provides fuel to the argument that too many movies are made in Sweden each year.