The Year I Started Masturbating

No pun intended - the international title is telling is what the main character is discovering ...on her journey or whatever you want to call it. Of course the movie is more than that .. and don't expect it to be .. well if you are looking to be ... satisfied on a erotic front ... you probably should watch something completely different. Just saying - otherwise you'd be disappointed.

More or less like the main character is at the beginning. You can plan things, but you can never know all the things that may hit you. Life is a ... well you know what. So ... enjoy while you can - maybe not during working hours of course. On the other hand, that would enlighten many ... and give a new spin and ramp up the temperature and all that ... all kidding aside, the movie has some issues with the pacing and the mood it tries to convey ... but it is quite nice ... also has an interesting message ... and a good one.

The film begins on a promising note, offering some genuinely humorous moments. However, as it progresses, it becomes increasingly predictable, relying on repetitive humor scenarios in which the central character, Hanna, finds herself in embarrassing situations.

One of the central questions raised by the film is its underlying message. Initially, Hanna is depicted as a character with significant flaws - she neglects her family's needs, makes major financial decisions unilaterally, and appears emotionally distant. Towards the film's conclusion, she declares that she won't change who she is, and others should accept her for it.

This choice is somewhat perplexing, as it misses an opportunity for a more intriguing reversal of stereotypes, where a female character could be portrayed as a workaholic instead of the traditional male figure. Moreover, it departs from the common theme found in many films that emphasize the importance of family. In this case, the movie conveys a somewhat contradictory message, suggesting that individual desires should take precedence, and others should unquestioningly accept one's behavior. This message strikes an unusual and somewhat perplexing chord, at least in my interpretation.

This is an absolutely terrible picture. The characters are just so unkind and repugnant they made me sick, throughout. I am not sure if this is supposed to be a comedy or a drama- but it is actually neither.. It is poorly scripted. It is poorly acted. It is poorly filmed and poorly Directed. It really has no redeeming qualities, although the lead actress is somewhat sympathetic; however, she is mostly pathetic. As my exposure to Swedish films is limited to some classics, I don't know if this is typical, or atypical; however, I would not rush to see another one anytime soon. This seemed twice as long as it actually was.

This movie script must have been written by some of the laziest... something, anything... but not writers. Besides the usual feminism BS that is flooding the screen nowadays (with the usual bumbling idiots, aka man) there is so very little that makes any sense in this movie. There's no structure, no actual progress, just feelings and life changing advices received by what a seems a successful women from another one she accidentally met, some extremely reliable person that is passing thru life hopping from meaningless job to another (bar keeper, dogs walker, some sort of a fitness instructor and the sort).

Contrary to some other reviews, I found this movie hilarious and uplifting. Masturbation does feature, obviously, and it's up to the viewer to decide whether to take it literally or metaphorically - either way, it works. We follow the main character through what should be the most depressing period of her life, during which time circumstance forces her into the company of people she'd never have ordinarily met, all of whom enrich her life, while at the same time she re-evaluates her existing relationships from a new perspective. They say when you hit rock-bottom, the only way is up, and she rises like an surprised Phoenix from the ashes. If you do take my advice and watch this lovely movie - watch the credits to the very end.