The Year I Started Masturbating

This is an absolutely terrible picture. The characters are just so unkind and repugnant they made me sick, throughout. I am not sure if this is supposed to be a comedy or a drama- but it is actually neither.. It is poorly scripted. It is poorly acted. It is poorly filmed and poorly Directed. It really has no redeeming qualities, although the lead actress is somewhat sympathetic; however, she is mostly pathetic. As my exposure to Swedish films is limited to some classics, I don't know if this is typical, or atypical; however, I would not rush to see another one anytime soon. This seemed twice as long as it actually was.

The film begins on a promising note, offering some genuinely humorous moments. However, as it progresses, it becomes increasingly predictable, relying on repetitive humor scenarios in which the central character, Hanna, finds herself in embarrassing situations.

One of the central questions raised by the film is its underlying message. Initially, Hanna is depicted as a character with significant flaws - she neglects her family's needs, makes major financial decisions unilaterally, and appears emotionally distant. Towards the film's conclusion, she declares that she won't change who she is, and others should accept her for it.

This choice is somewhat perplexing, as it misses an opportunity for a more intriguing reversal of stereotypes, where a female character could be portrayed as a workaholic instead of the traditional male figure. Moreover, it departs from the common theme found in many films that emphasize the importance of family. In this case, the movie conveys a somewhat contradictory message, suggesting that individual desires should take precedence, and others should unquestioningly accept one's behavior. This message strikes an unusual and somewhat perplexing chord, at least in my interpretation.

My wife picked this movie, and we enjoyed it for the most part. It's a comedy, but it's not hilarious funny. It has a few good cringe moments. The main character is believable and likeable. In general, I believe this movie was made for women, which is a bit unfortunate. The male characters are weak, whiny, and manipulative. Apparently, men are the single biggest problem in women's life. This message becomes painfully obvious in the last few minutes of the movie. This is a rather silly point of view, but it wouldn't have bothered me much, if they didn't push it so hard at the very end. If "the message" doesn't bother you, and you enjoy cringe comedy, then I would give it a shot.

This is your typical "Chick Flick", feminist, female empowerment movie, targeted to a very specific audience. The plot is all over the place, with dialog that is very explicit, and orgasmic scenes that appear to also in that vein. The ultimate result is boredom. The outcome is a predictable one, after the usual journey of self discovery and renaissance. The lead character comes out the other end as an strong independent female, one who has rediscovered her new power and new self. It will probably resonate well with its target audience, but certainly would not have wide audience appeal. The humor works at time, especially if one is familiar with that country's culture!

Contrary to some other reviews, I found this movie hilarious and uplifting. Masturbation does feature, obviously, and it's up to the viewer to decide whether to take it literally or metaphorically - either way, it works. We follow the main character through what should be the most depressing period of her life, during which time circumstance forces her into the company of people she'd never have ordinarily met, all of whom enrich her life, while at the same time she re-evaluates her existing relationships from a new perspective. They say when you hit rock-bottom, the only way is up, and she rises like an surprised Phoenix from the ashes. If you do take my advice and watch this lovely movie - watch the credits to the very end.