magda_butra Reviews

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)

Bouncing between two extremes

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

Pigeon is made in the same style as You, the Living. Again we have plenty of short scenes, shot from one angle, with no cuts. Filled with absurdity, no actual plot, various way of interpretation. Too deep or too obvious, Andersson bounces between two extremes. The characters and the scenes are overdrawn. Everything happens in one, slow pace. Silence is boring and dulling the vigilance. In comparison, You, the Living seemed more... lively.

If Andersson shows Swedish society, I felt the criticism towards it in one scene, mocking it in the second and a direct reference to it in the third. The critique is present in a scene with elderly elegant Swedes observing the cruelty, done by non-Sweden. For me this is a reflection on Swedish neutrality in the 20th century. Mocking the Swedish society appears in the last scene. Bunch of people is waiting at the bus stop and one of the men starts to ask if today it's really Wednesday, cause for him it felt like Thursday. The group assures him that yes indeed, it's Wednesday. Additionally, the other man explains, that we all have to agree that it's Wednesday, otherwise there's gonna be chaos. Of course the first man did not imply that we wished it's another day of the week or that he is still gonna pretend it's not Wednesday. It did not hinder the other man to make sure that everything is clear - even if you feel like something else, you have to agree with everyone else in order to keep peace and organization. It might be exaggerated reference to Jantelagen (no one is special, no one should act like they are superior to one another). It is established that it's Wednesday, everyone has to adjust.

And then it's my favourite scene with Charles XII. He, as a Swedish king, should be a clear indicator that Andersson tells something about Sweden. Okay, we have a king with absolute power, everyone serves him even if he has the most ridiculous demands. But... this could be any monarch, right? So for me by using him, the director was more about praising the modernization, understood both as moving from kingdoms to democracy and as equalization of the societies. Choosing Charles XII could simply just give Andersson space to mock king's homosexual needs, which was directly shown. Despite different possible interpretations, I admire Andersson for the technical management of this scene. It's the longest one in the movie and the most complicated. So many elements could go wrong and in the end there is this final version with no cut. Standing ovation.

What if we look at Pigeon not as a portrait of Swedish life, but a life itself? All the feelings are phlegmatic. Even love, even anger, even laughter. Is the life so unfair or do we make it this way ourselves? I think that Swedish societ" is just a frame. Andersson is using some obvious cliches and stereotypes (which still can be true!) about his motherland in order to explain something more, something common to all human beings. Or I'm just trying to find deeper meaning which really isn't there. If so, this is just another proof of this director's strength - his movies can be seen through so many shades of interpretation.

You, the Living (2007)

Surprising with normality

[8/10 · 18 January 2018]

Andersson is not using a typical plot. He presents couple of stories, which may or may not relate to one another. They don't have to comment on each other, comment on life, say anything at all. If there are connections between the scenes or the characters, they are not important. A particular scene can be a pearl by itself. All are shot from one angle, with no cut. All the colours are typically Swedish - monochrome, faded pastels, beige, brown and grey, no intensity (thanks to this measure whenever the director uses a vibrant colour it catches the eye immediately). All the sceneries are very Swedish as well - the interiors are very simple, with almost no decorations, showing only useful items. Andersson shows mainly the inside of the flats, but whenever he goes on the streets, he follows this pattern - modernistic architecture with clean cuts of the brick, faded shades of the colours. He uses all the most Swedish surroundings that he can find. But is he showing Swedish society?

There are samples of life, which are undoubtedly Swedish, there are processes, which can be found in several societies. For the former I might mention a scene with drinking songs. I know, it's basically a human quality to sing and drink, but Swedes have some unique lyrics and games, known across all counties and generations. For the latter there is of course Nazism, hidden in the movie and in Swedish society as well and this may apply to other countries. Sweden is such an interesting case for that - as a country neutral during the second world war, brining humanitarian help, on the other hand having many supporters of this ideology.

Andersson is showing different aspects of life - conflict in the marriage, children taking advantage of their parents, lost love, loneliness, Nazism. Those might be universal issues, affecting all humans, taken up by numerous artists so far. In You, the Living Andersson is playing smoothly with all measures possible. It's hard to judge the movie as a whole, I enjoyed particular scenes. Maybe they are pure absurd, mumbling, overdrawn. Maybe there is a meaning, message, interpretation. Andersson is surprising me with absurdity of life, not always so unexpected. He surprises me with normality. One does not have to be a freak to be weird.

Songs from the Second Floor (2000)

Plotless director

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

SONGS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR is the most incisive of Andersson's films. Every theme that we see in his later productions started here on a high note. In contrast to You, the Living and Pigeon. Here you might notice the plot, which evolves around furniture salesman Kalle (Lars Nordh) - even if you could see plot in movies reviewed above, I don't think it mattered there, but here one person is clearly in the spotlight. Two technical components are kept throughout all trilogy: scenes with no cut, directed from one angle and the silence.

When it comes to themes, present in Andersson's movies, religion and Nazism, here they are extremely exposed. With the former I even had a feeling like the director was referring to Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal through the figure of flagellants. At the same time he feels perfectly fine with mocking the religion but not as a philosophy or ideology, but it's symbols or people associated with it. So a priest, to which Kalle comes, seeking some sort of council, responds like an entrepreneur. So selling figures with Christ on a cross is a great business. People gather around a former general to celebrate his 100th birthday and he, perceiving this as an elevated moment, wants to send greetings to Göring and does heil Hitler.

Roy allowed himself to be bigger. He uses monumental frames and engages enormous amount of people. Neither of this is seen in the other two movies, where scenes are mostly from shot from a flat with couple of characters. Emotions grew with the size of the scenery and the crowd. Not like in You, the Living and the Pigeon here anger and despair are shown, not just articulated. I'm not judging whether is better or worse approach - although seeing all the emotions phlegmatic and stable shocked me more than all the expressions and outbursts.

This is the weakest Andersson's movie in terms of interpretation possibilities. Scenes have either very clear message (an airport with bunch of people, dragging a pile of luggage is a criticism towards consumptions, people present there want to leave Sweden permanently and it's obvious, still they inform the viewers about that) or characters present directly their thoughts on life (life is a market; we cannot decide on our jobs, on anything, everything is controlled by fate). Andersson shows Kalle's compunction through conversations with a deadman and we don't have to guess that he did something to rush his descent.

At Night All Wolves Are Grey (2011)

Decent

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

From the very first minute I thought: yes, this is my part! Really good shoots at the beginning, it smelled a bit like James Bond with Pierce Brosnan. Varg went for skiing with his old pal Even Nymark (Jon Øigarden). Even is an ex soldier, now working as a guard in the Armakon company, producing weapons. During Even's shift there is an explosion, which caused the death of most board members. Even is pointed out as a causer of the explosion. Varg checks out his flat and begins the investigation on his own. He finds some suspiciously looking papers and Even's partner, Elise (Ane Dahl Torp). In the mean time he ends up in Budapest, where my favourite scene with Hamre takes place.

The turning point of that movie took the some charm of the whole production. Normally this was the moment when I was doing the facepalm and saying "yes, of course!". This time I was suspecting one solution and still hoping that it won't happen. In the end, the movie has really good first part and decent scenes with Hamre, nothing more.

The Dead Have It Easy (2012)

Just skip it

[18 January 2018]

It starts with a chase in the forest in the middle of the night. Girl falls into the water, Varg is jumping after her. Girl survives the fall, but then she gets strangled. After the autopsy the conclusion is that it was an accident, so Varg starts to dig, suspecting a murder. He got dragged into the case because of Karin, who as a social worker, had the girl under her custody. After her death, she is paying attention to her friend, Amina (Sarah Bintu Sakor). At some point it is already too late for Varg to stop the investigation, even after Karin asked him to leave it. Everyone wants to help poor Amina, but no one understands why. I also don't understand. She is just another amoeba. The only woman that is doing anything and has a seed of character is Ellen Wantu (Fumi Desalu-Vold). The viewer cannot be sure about anything that concerns Ellen, who is she and which side of power she supports.

I don't get that movie at all. I don't like anything here. Bad plot, a lot of cliches, bunch of extremely stupid decisions and on top of that Varg and Karin are arguing. Because what was not yet in Varg's life? Human trafficking! It concerns mainly girls from the Third World, so Ukraine and Uganda. And of course all men from the upper class are involved. Just no. Skip it.

Varg Veum - Skriften på veggen (2010)

Haunted by the past

[6/10 · 18 January 2018]

Varg quit job as a detective and now works in school. The same school, which "by accident" Torill attends to. Torill is a sister of Eva Beate (Martine Johansen is playing as both sisters), a girl that died few years ago, when Varg was still working in social services. The beginning of Varg's new job coincides with releasing Ulrik "Knife" Sand (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) from prison. Sand claims that he was in jail as an innocent man and he blames Varg for his misery. Knife seeks for revenge on the ex detective and in order to do that he uses Torill and the case of deceased Eva Beate.

So. Varg has got a haircut, has a partner, and, oh dear, changed his SUV for a bicycle, what made him steal a car, when he had to chase a villain. Hamre seems to be used to Varg now, he got rid of his annoying assistant. This piece gives some inside into Varg's past. Now, when he is with Karin (Lene Nystrøm) he wants to settle down, but he cannot help with the need to save people. And this of course puts him and Karin in danger.

Varg Veum - Din til døden (2008 Video)

Watch out for the cringe

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

Varg is looking for a stolen car. He reached a car repair shop, where he found what he was looking for. The only obstacle was that the car was used by the mechanics for a robbery and they don't want to give the car away. In addition to that, they claim that they bought the car. It belonged to Joachim Andersen (Igor Necemeer) and was sold by his ex-wife Wenche (Sølje Bergmann). Although Varg fulfilled his job and found a car, he got involved into a divorce and a murder. And an affair, that I want to quickly forget about.

My problem with this piece is that finally I really like the plot, but the romantic story arcs cause a lot of cringe. And the director still doesn't know how to show Bergen in a different way beside one, present in all previous movies, same shoot.

Varg Veum - Begravde hunder (2008 Video)

Small disapointment

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

Bodyguards of one of the Bergen's clubs went roughly on one of the guys, waiting in line to get inside. After their intervention the guy, who was not a typical Norwegian beauty, died. One of the top politicians of a conservative party, Einar Bergene (Kyrre Haugen Sydness) did not condemn the actions of the bodyguards. This opened up a huge discussion in media and in the party itself - should they apply more restrict anti immigrant policy? Einar is preparing himself for the upcoming elections for the position of the party leader. His opponent is Marit Haug (Siv Klynderud), much more toned in her opinions. Marit goes to Varg for help - she is afraid that somebody wants to kill her.

After the good fifth movie this piece was a little disappointment. The characters are unidimensional and boring, full of cliches and schemes. Everything that was possible was put into the screenplay and the riddle itself remained in the shadows. In the first part of the movie some small turning points were unexpected, but the closer you get to the end, the less tension there was.

Varg Veum: Woman in the Fridge (2008 Video)

This is what Bergen is about

[8/10 · 18 January 2018]

Varg finally is earning some serious money as employed by the big IT company. They want Varg to find one of their employees, Arne Samuelsen (Erik Alexander Bjelke). This required a visit in his flat and meeting his co-workers. Varg is in contact with two of them - good-natured father and a grandfather Hallvard Johnsen (Dennis Storhøi) and a bit nervously and suspiciously looking Kejtill (Christian Rubeck). I think that this piece has the best opening scene and the most boring final one.

This time the director apparently realised that he is in Norway, which has a lot of beautiful landscapes. Bergen itself is not the most spectacular place on Earth, but you can show those cliffs! Finally here we have it.

Varg Veum - Tornerose (2008 Video)

I feel better thanks to this movie

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

Varg is going to Copenhagen in order to find Lisa (Julie Rustie), daughter of the local businessman, Peter Werner (Bjørn Willberg Andersen). The case is not finished with the moment of leaving Lisa at her parents' house. Werner neighbours' son Peder (Frank Kjosås) is missing and parents ask Varg to find the boy. Again we have a rich Norwegian family, problems with emotions, teenage rebellion, mafia, sex and drugs.

I am not the brightest bulb in the box. There are viewers which after one sentence or one scene scream that the servant killed the lord, when I am still thinking about ex-wife and present mother-in-law. Watching "Varg Veum" my ego feels better. But then it doesn't leave the movie with the greatest review. Because what kind of crime story it is, when an average spectator as me in the middle of the movie finds out who is the father and who is the killer? "Sleeping Beauty" is better in comparison with "Bitter flowers" in a sense that despite the fact that you know now everything, the tension is still there.

Black Sheep (2011)

The attempt

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

This movie allows to get to know Karin. Or at least this was the attempt. Karin's mother is dying and her last wish is to meet with Karin's younger sister, Siren (Kjærsti Skjelndal), which ran away from home as a teenager. For Varg this time gap is no problem and soon he tracks Siren down. Apparently, she is involved in a murder and is surrounded by mafia. We see few incredibly unnecessary scenes, but in the end this is one of the best movies in the set.

Back to this attempt of getting to know Karin. The movie had a potential to do that, but it was blown away. She is hidden in Varg's shadow, despite the fact that now she is the second most important character. On the other hand, male characters are nicely surprising, cause although the plot is based on women, men conduct all the actions.

Varg Veum - The Consorts of Death (2011)

Hope for a better movie

[8/10 · 18 January 2018]

One of many small Norwegian islands. The postman is delivering packages. At one place he noticed door wide opened. As he knew the tenants, he came up to check the house. Inside he found two dead bodies. When he was moving back to the car, he was spotted by a boy, living in that house, holding a rifle. The postman managed to run away and notify the police. The boy, Jan Egil (Sturla Alvsvåg) told Hamre, that he will negotiate only with Varg Veum, otherwise he will kill his hostage, friend from school Silje (Dagny Backer Johnsen). Varg took care of young Jan Egil, when as a social worker decided to take the boy from his addicted to narcotics mother. Now, when boy is almost a man, in the whole investigation former Varg's co-workers are involved - Cecilie (Line Verndal) and Hans (Vegar Hoel).

Maybe in a general opinion this piece does not have the most sophisticated riddle, but it the nicest to watch (if you skip those few scenes, when Varg is alpha male). And Hamre is pretty friendly. And many bad people dies, which is usually a benefit.

Varg Veum - Kalde hjerter (2012)

Thank God it's over

[6/10 · 18 January 2018]

A prostitute disappears and her sister comes to Varg asking for help. He finds out that the sisters have also a brother and they allare famous siblings. Siv (Ingrid Olava), Maggie (Gitte Vitt) and Karl Gunnar (Brage Kjepso) were raised by four guardians. So what, seven characters in one sentence? And this is just the beginning! We also have a new villain, Malthus (Kim Sørensen), his bodyguard and his victim, Karl Gunnar's pal. So it wasn't enough that they have similar names, they also look the same. And Hamre is investigating a case of the murder of Bergen's cats. And Karin is pregnant and expects a baby, so of course she should leave town for couple of days. And Varg has short, but cringy enough scenes when he talks to the belly. And often cries/joys that he is going to be a father. And everybody wears bad clothes. Weird fighting scenes, blood and sex. JustKarin looks good, because her only job in those movies is to look sexy.

And I thought it cannot be worse. The plot is disgustingly predictable and Trond failed as a director. From all bad scenes my favourite is the one when Varg is looking at pictures for a minute with a dramatic music in the background. Only Hamre is charming.

Varg Veum - Bitre blomster (2007)

Varg Veum

[7/10 · 18 January 2018]

A local politician Vibeke Farang (Trine Wiggen) is hiring Varg to find her young daughter who has gone missing. Hamre and his assistant Isaschen (Endre Hellestveit) do not wish detective's help and at the same time it is obvious, that he will solve the mystery first. In the investigation a huge company producing medicine is involved as well as brothers who are about to take over the management over it. Corrupted, filled with evil upper class and good, straightfoward Varg. Between those two worlds there is a lawyer working at the company, Anna(Kathrine Fagerland), who would have to choose between job and morality.

Watching "Bitter flowers" makes sense only because of introducing the character of Anna, who will appear in the next pieces. Because beside of the good opening scene the movie is full of cliches - rich parents, preoccupied with carrier and romances, but of course loving their kids, a conspiracy in the big company, and one of the final scenes has too much of resemblance to the end of the one seasons of Dexter.

Varg Veum - Falne engler (2008)

Varg Veum

[8/10 · 18 January 2018]

We don't know much about Varg's private life. Probably he was married, but now he lives alone, he doesn't go out and doesn't meet his friends. The only mammal elements in his life are Hamre, Isachsen and Anna. In "Fallen Angels" his old friends showed up. At the airport Varg bumps into Rebecca (Pia Tjelta) and Jakob (Per Kjerstad), with whom he broke off contacts before they got married. Back then they were like a pack and even had a band. The band still exists and Jakob is its leader. He asks Varg to follow Rebecca and check if she is having an affair. Although Varg stays away from marital issues, this time he breaks this rule. His investigation is linked to a serial killer. His victims are drugged, dressed into white dresses and hanged.

I can complement the plot, I won't complain about Varg's private life and for the first time I feel sympathy towards Hamre.

The Snowman (2017)

what's wrong with the movie "Snowman" in 5 steps

[2/10 · 18 January 2018]

It has nothing to do with a book. It has nothing to do with a good movie either. "Snowman" was one of those books that I (and probably million fans) was longing to see on the screen. It's on a scale with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or Twilight. Worldwide phenomenon. So the expectations were high, at least for me. But even if you simply want to watch a good thriller, you will be disappointed as well. Let's try to talk about this movie in 5 steps.

Step 1: what is it all about

First things first. "Snowman" is the seventh book from a book series about detective Harry Hole, written by a Norwegian author Jo Nesbø. This volume is considered to be the breaking point - it brought fame and success to Nesbø. From now on the Holemania lasts.

"Snowman" is about a serial killer, who murders unfaithful women. Usually they are married with kids. Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender), who at this stage of his life fights (again) with alcoholism and the fact of losing Rakel (Charlotte Gainsbourg), receives a letter from the killer, kind of an invitation to play in hide and seek. Harry works on the case with Katrine Bratt (Rebecca Ferguson) who also tries to solve a case from her past. Thanks to this we can look at poorly preserved face of Val Kilmer, starring as Gert Rafto, former star of the Bergen police. In addition to that Harry and Katrine investigate a case of women trafficing, what leads them to Arve Støp (J.K. Simmons). To add a cherry on top, Harry has personal problems. He tries to remain close with Rakel's son, Oleg (Michael Yates), despite the fact that she has a new partner, Matthias (Jonas Karlsson).

Borg vs. McEnroe (2017)

Iceberg vs Volcano

[8/10 · 18 January 2018]

Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon's. John McEnroe, winner of four US Open's and three Wimbledon's. They met for the first time on the court in 1980 in London. Borg was seeking the fifth title of Wimbledon winner, for McEnroe it the first final in this tournament. Their game is considered to be one of the best final ever played. Can you be thrilled by a movie that you know the ending of?

The (hi)story The importance and tension, both in true life and in the movie, leans towards Borg (Sverrir Gudnason). He is not only defending the title, but coming to achieve what was never done before - winning five consecutive Wimbledon's. The real Borg was under a lot of pressure and it was shown on the screen. At the beginning we mostly see him, how he is dealing with the stress and Gudnason made an amazing job. It would seem that every Swedish person could star a reserved, cold and withdrawn tennis player, but not showing the emotions does not mean not having any. And Gudnason used all shivering muscles and gestures to express suppressed feelings without using words. With time more scenes with McEnroe (Shia LeBeouf) come in. For both of them we see some flashbacks from their childhood and/or moments that influenced their career. There is nothing about the plot you don't already know (and DON'T GOOGLE IT if you don't know the outcome of the final. Watch the movie, hate me, bite your nails, thank me). But how the story was told is another pair of shoes.