Are We Lost Forever

The movie opens with two men slowly - very slowly - discussing their breakup. That continues - slowly, depressingly, pointlessly - for the next hour and 45 minutes. As with another reviewer, I was begging for the end.

Also, this movie contains one of the least likeable protagonists imaginable. If you want someone to root for, Adrian isn't it.

An honest depiction of relationship on the rocks and the aftermath for the one who leaves behind alone and wounded. Bjorn Elgerd is fantastic as the man who has a hard time showing the true emotions and deep grieve on his loss of his partner. The closeness, intimicy and mental pain echo's Swedish director Inmar Bergman.

Yet again, I've been glued to the set watching a film of one hour and forty four minutes. I'm always apprehensive when a film goes over the ninety minute mark as I fear it might just be a sprawling mess. However, here, I didn't glance once at the clock to see how much longer there would be till the end.

When the film started, I was also worried that it was going to be similar to "Weekend" or "Sodom", both films that bored the pants off me. The format looked as if it was going to be the same - two guys discussing their past and their relationship. However, the director and writer had mixed a judicious number of other characters into the pot although it was a film principally about Adrian and Hampus.

The differences between the two leads were marked as were their different ways of dealing with their break up. Adrian, who was afraid of ever losing control, had to deal with it having happened. And with his personality, he was the one who had the greater difficulties in being alone and accepting the fact. Hampus had his hardships too but they were impulsive and emotional, not sustained and obsessive.

The minor characters were ciphers, of course. This was a film about the two former lovers. Nonetheless, their contributions moved the plot along. The one plot device I disliked though was the impossible coincidence of the meeting in the HIV clinic. There were better ways to engineer the story towards a dinner party for the exes and their new fellas.

I understand that on the deluxe DVD there is an alternative ending that can be played. If that ending is what I suspect it might be, then it would be an utter cop out and I'm glad it wasn't used for general release.

The very last shots in the film screamed "Sweden" to me. Even without having seen the film or heard the language, seeing those fields and that lane would have had me saying that this was Sweden or (possibly) Finland. I'd feared that the ending was going to be different but it was perfect and apt.

I had to write a review, when I saw the low rating on here.

This movie ie honest and pure, and anyone who had been through a break up (and who hasn't ) will relate to the raw emotions displayed here.

Acting is very pure and honest, and although the pace of the movie is rather slow, the storytelling again is really honest as well.

I thorouhly enjoyed this movie, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoy a real relatable storyline with some fine actors.

First of all, this isn't a bad film - but it's not necessarily a good one.

I get what they were trying to achieve with the story and characters but it missed the mark for me. The acting is okay and production is reasonable but neither elevate the story.

The film is perhaps a bit slow in pacing and by the hour mark I was begging for the end. I managed to finish the film without giving up but was left feeling very depressed and like I had wasted hours of my life... but maybe that was the point - in a breakup you are left feeling depressed and that it was all a waste of time?! Not sure the film was THAT clever though.

Rent it and see for yourself.