I skuggan av värmen

Scandinavian films are known to be more realistic and truer to life than most Hollywood manufacturing line, cookie cutter end products. Beata Gårdeler made a wonderful job of making viewers live through the rollercoaster of banality, love, boredom, pain, loss, joy, struggle, faux redemption, and ultimately, hope for true redemption and new beginnings.

Malin Crépin was brilliant as Eva. I am not sure if she was trained in Method acting but Konstantin Stanislavski, Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg would have been proud. She is just a gem to be cherished not just in one lifetime. I hope she has more movies in future.

The support cast led by the ever versatile Joel Kinnaman highlights the talent of scandinavian actors. He too, was brilliant. This film, even though early in his career, showed that he can do serious and emotionally taxing roles. His range is truly admirable. No surprise that he is now a star.

This film is up there among the best from Scandinavia... do not miss.