A film primarily concerned with coping with grief, Lisa Langseth’s Hotell is intermittently intense, amusing and ultimately affecting. Whilst characters are somewhat underwritten, the actors bring a sense of realism to these roles which allows the film to successfully deal with the notions of shame and depedency.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is a beautiful examination of mankind’s constant irrational search for the rational in every instance of life. Herngren has adpated the highly successful novel by Jonas Jonasson and retained its absurdist essence.
Ballet Boys
Whilst Ballet Boys attempts to break away from the narrative of ballet as a feminine art form and the familiar space of professional ballet companies, Elvebakk’s piece falls short in developing the lives of these characters and is ultimately a hyperdramatisation of puberty and the ballet world.
Pioneer
Who knew that the backroom politics of something as mundane as deep sea oil drilling could be so enthralling? Erik Skjoldbjærg’s film, sixteen years after his breakthrough film Insomnia, is a nuanced drama about brothers and guilt.
Home (Hemma)
Maximilian Hult’s film, screening at Scandi FF, is a warm and amusing look at the idea of stasis in life and the need for love, told through the intersection of four characters in a small town.
Metalheads and Deep Sea Divers – A Look at Scandinavian Film Festival Australia
Australia’s inaugural Scandinavian Film Festival kicks off in Sydney soon, and showcases a range of recent films from Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.