Stockholm My Love

An architect (Neneh Cherry) skips her lecture on Swedish architecture and wanders around Stockholm coming to terms with a fatal road accident she was involved in a year ago.

There is only one character, who speaks predominantly as a voice over. This is varied by interludes of Swedish music, including songs by Cherry herself, whose pleasing voice lends itself to narration. In turns, she explains Stockholm's notable buildings, recounts the story of the accident, and muses philosophically, as one does on long walks.

The film lacks not only plot, but purpose. We learn little about Stockholm, and the philosophising is shallow and leads nowhere, though the film is the better for not trying to put over any particular political or moral point. Stockholm does not look particularly attractive, and the music is not memorable. There is, however, something about the film that has stayed with me: a sense of place, and of love for that place, and beauty in the mundane; the idea that whatever you look closely at seems to look back at you. Perhaps we do not look at our surroundings closely enough.

This is not a film for everyone, or indeed for anyone not in the mood for a guided cinematic meditation set in a rather bleak urban environment. If you don't 'get' slow cinema (yes, that is a thing) then this is not for you.

Stockholm is not the only syndrome.

"Dad" is not the only word.

Neneh Cherry is not the only actor.

It reminded me a little of Robinson in Space (1997). From the description on IMDB of that much earlier work: "Robinson is commissioned to investigate the unspecified "problem of England." The narrator describes his seven excursions, with the unseen Robinson, around the country."

But here the narration is drab and tired-out, so low-key. At any moment, it seemed like Neneh Cherry's character would decide she was more in the mood for a trip to Dignitas than a snail's pace mooch around Stockholm.

A film that makes you realise it is not inappropriate to walk out of a home cinema. (I gave it 24 minutes before I found myself out on the street.)

It would have been much better if it had been a short film.

Finally! a 100% cure for insomnia. Commentary states Sweden is one of the happiest countries in the world - you certainly would not get that impression from this melancholic, downbeat, tedious, navel-gazing film consisting of a series of gloomy views of Stockholm in winter. If you make to the end credits, you may need to call the Samaritans, or celebrate your masochism..

Watching this film about a city I love reminded me of French cinema In the 60's - narcissistic, nihilistic and claustrophobic, there was nothing to enjoy.

I didn't watch the whole film - life is too short.