Ska vi hem till dig... eller hem till mig... eller var och en till sitt?

A neat little long-short film (45mins) by Lasse Hallstrom is an experiment first and foremost by the filmmaker working with actors, who, improvised. Secondly, this is a fascinating and quite entertaining film about picking up girls at bars and what comes of it. Some work, some don't. This is done through three friends who each succeed in meeting a girl who agrees to "go to a place" what ensues is a very true (if of course you've experienced it yourself) depiction of what might happen; philosophy talk while your partner is bored to tears and wants to just "get it on", complete strangers "clicking" just right, and silence, shyness and uneasiness. Very entertaining. You can find this on the criterion release of Hallstrom's My Life as a Dog.

Three Swedish dudes in their late twenties meet up at a happening discotheque to try their hand with the lady-folk. Near closing time, they all cast out their lines semi-desperately. What follows is a smart dialog-driven view on the bar scene. Amazingly, there was very little that seemed dated or foreign about this movie, a testament to the universal power of the writing (or perhaps the stale unchanging nature of the meat market.)

One way or another, this movie will likely grab you in some way. The moments with Gunnar and his lady are painful and awkward, like a scene out of Happiness. Arne and his lady are thought-provoking and odd artistes, more difficult to puzzle out. Calle and his lady are fresh and upbeat, injecting much-needed hope into what could otherwise be a semi-depressing film.

I believe the only way you can see this movie is on the DVD extras of My Life as a Dog but if you get a chance, it's well worth it. And if you hate it, it's only 45 minutes long, you haven't wasted much time.