This show premiered on SVT Play (Swedish Television) Sept 26. It is based on Mats Strandberg's book Färjan, The Ferry.
These ferries, "Finlandsfärjor" are probably a lesser known Nordic,ö cultural trait, and offer weekend experiences for all ages: Karaoke, tax free and SPAs are must-have elements, for instance.
There is something for everyone on board, be it child, adult, family or singles. But the singular most important trait is, for good or for bad, drinking and partying. Truth be told it's a lucky wonder so few people fall overboard!
PREMISE
A mother (Tuppence Middleton) and her son (Kolbjörn Skarsgård) - or is he really her "son"? - get on a bustling ferry, Baltic Charisma, filled with partying groups and families, bachelors and soon-to-be-weds.
But the merry partying won't last.
We'll meet many fascinating characters, staff and guests alike, whom we get to follow during at least the first two episodes.
The mother and boy for instance. She seems quite nasty in the first half of the premiere episode. But maybe there's more to her and her relationship with the boy?
Each and every character has a story, down to the smallest role, which additionally is delicately acted and directed.
Marika Lagercrantz's superbly minimalistic and vulnerable portrayal of "Marianne". We get to know so much about her insecurities just by watching her body language and demeanor.
Why is she actually on board the ferry?
Then there's Björn Bengtsson's tragic yet oddly empathetic "Dan Appelgren." (Just be aware of his first scene which is bluntly cringy! But everything is for a reason when it comes to Dan. And soon we'll know why.)
Björn Bengtsson really rises to the occasion and may very well play the part of a lifetime in Färjan. Dan is an outworn, flash in the pan "star" who constantly tries to keep his all but forgotten fame and tarnished good looks alive.
We get to see everything in his eyes and face. The vulnerability and the yearning for love and peace in as much as his sensitive ego that wrestles with deep self loathing.
There are twists, depths and surprises lurking behind every dwindling cabin corridor, some stupefying (like the scene with the groom in the cabin and his fellow Bachelor party-mates: His flabbergasted reaction, in between deep distaste and a guffaw, feels immensely genuine. Other scenes are hilarious or touching. Some twists are dumbfounding or cringy - but all are carefully directed and cut.
These "substories" could have dragged the tempo down, yet they don't: The scenes' length and depth if the acting are excuisitely balanced to maintain the pace without losing anything in reaction and emotions.
I'm impressed by the feat.
There's a tendency (IMO) among Swedish actors to forget their voices in otherwise good acting.
But not in Färjan. Everything is Magna cum laude. Only once do we pick up a less than perfect acting (IMO) and that's when we're introduced to the dysfunctional dad "Mårten" (played by Christoffer Hagelin) at the Ferry Terminal.
Twelve year old Kolbjörn Skarsgård however, manages to excellently alternate between the innocent, scared boy Walter, and a sinister freak who is fed up with the anonymous life he's been reduced to live for too long.
Personally, I was very curious about Kolbjörns role and performance, and I am impressed so far. Despite his age, Kolbjörn masters both demeanor, body language and voice-acting flawlessly.
So who knows, maybe we will see the next Stellan in his son.
The setting is also authentic down to the tiniest detail with many services and categories of staff and personnel as well as crew on board to facilitate these huge ferries and their thousands of passengers. And sometimes they are indeed kindergartens in more ways than one (just like one of the security officers tells her tyro colleague. :-)
By the way, is it only me who thinks John Anderberg (the groom-to-be) bears a striking resemblance to the American actor James Cromwell?
All in all, Färjan is a surprisingly positive experience despite being based on a book. It's not always the end result turns out better just because the author is involved with the script, but in this case it may turn out to be a good choice.
And even if you're normally not into horror, the well written drama, arcs and acting are worth a watch.
Two episodes in, Färjan sails on with flying colors.
