The Disappearance of Finbar

A real oddity, this mixed bag of a film. The early establishing scenes are so ineptly handled, and so protracted, yet the film suddenly springs into life in the second half, when we get across to Finland. Here we have some stunning scenery and an interesting look at a part of the world that doesn't often appear on the cinema screen. Even here it falters occasionally, in that the main story is all but forgotten in what amounts to little more than a quirky travelogue. If the opening half had been a little more engaging, then the ensuing developments would have had far more power. As it stands, we are left with a film not devoid of charm. The humorous moments seem a little forced and not always successful, and the overall impression is of the amateurishness of the entire enterprise. Shame, because there was a lot of scope here.

I saw this one accidentally in the morning in tv. it was ok to watch at breakfast, i thought first. the film didn´t seem to have a goal, it just went on, with nothing really happening, just "real-life". but it somehow got me, and i went on watching. the story was as aimless as danny´s search, but it had its magic moments. i bought the soundtrack today (it was reduced!) and i like it, because it is as calm as the whole film. 7/10

This is a movie of two halves,first half in Ireland and the second half in sweden, which implies the purpose of the film is two-fold. Firstly it could be seen as a comparison between two cultures.A study in human nature.It shows that although the customs are different(clothes,music taste,food and so on) the basic human emotions are the same non-the-less. Secondly the film deals with these feelings.It portrays both sides of the coin.It shows how these emotions could be manipulated and turned into an item of fascination for other people(pop video...) and how also they could transcend borders,cultures,shackles imposed by society and so on to create something beautiful(friendship of Danny and Finbar, relationship of Abbi and Danny...). On the sideline it also suggests to you to go out and discover the world, ENJOY THE SNOW AND FRESH AIR!

Dealing with the search for friendship, love, freedom and your own identity, this is surely the best film I know. Music, landscape and the characters build an unique atmosphere, that is mystic in a way, but most of all an expression of a longing and seeking mood. A film to find yourself! Or as Sue Clayton says, it is a film about the wanderer of Irish Legend and his chronist. And surely everyone is invited to share this wandering.

Did he jump or did he fall?

A movie said to be Irish-English-Swedish was enough to make me watch it when it was on TV, but I must say I'm disappointed. The movie starts out in Ireland, Finbar disappears, then half the movie goes by, and then suddenly Finbar decides to phone up his old friend Danny, telling him he's in Sweden. If the movie was half-interesting and believable in the beginning, after Danny goes to Sweden, it becomes decreasingly interesting and believable.

The scenery is really nice (even though I personally can't stand being in the north of Sweden because of all the snow and the freezing cold), but lovely nature pictures of it doesn't make up for the complete lack of anything resembling a proper plot. It's far too weak! Why did Danny go all that way and through all that trouble to search for Finbar, when Finbar was a completely selfish prat who no one in their right mind could really care about (let alone the movie audience!) - which we learn from the first 5 minutes of the film? The story's so full of plot holes it could compete with a Swiss cheese!

The only good thing about it, apart from the scenery pictures, is the Irish accent, and a chance to recognise some people who were in "Michael Collins", plus Lorraine Pilkington ("Monarch of the Glen"). That's about it. Sure, you can watch this movie if you've got nothing better to do, but you'd be better off watching something else.