Tjuvheder

Impeccable writing from Peter Grönlund, with an impressive authenticity in the dialogues. Grönlund's direction is so determined and good, it's hard to believe it's his debut. Malin Levanon is amazing in the lead - and Lo Kauppi is great too.

Tjuvheder (or Drifters for the English title) is watchable but I've not been wowed by it. The cast consists of a lot of people that clearly had that kind of life they're playing in the movie, drug addicts and homeless people. They did a good job though, I guess they just acted like they normally act in real life. Because that's basically what this movie is, a sort of documentary of the hard street life, a drama where it's hard to leave from once you're going down that spiral. Every big city has its addicts, we've all seen them before, and if you never witnessed it just watch this movie because it's tragically the same.

Amazing performance from the lead actress Malin Levanon. Good original script (Peter Gronlund) and music (Johan Testad). A remarkable debut film of Swedish director Peter Gronlund with creditable casting of actors including real drug peddlers. A film that deals with the importance of bonding for the mutual benefit of several character pairs at various stages of the script. Is it only short-term bonding, is the moot question the audience has to answer.

The film, set in the underbelly of Stockholm, Sweden, attempts to depict the harsh realities of homelessness and drug addiction; however, it falls drastically short in its execution. The resulting portrayal is a bleak, dreary, and, ultimately, unengaging experience that does a disservice to the complex issues it attempts to address.

The movie primarily focuses on a group of individuals who are struggling with substance abuse, living on the fringes of society, and engaging in illicit activities to survive. The plot meanders aimlessly, devoid of any clear narrative structure or character development, leaving the audience to witness a series of unfortunate events with no discernible purpose or resolution. This lack of direction makes it nearly impossible to invest emotionally in the characters' struggles or find a sense of meaning in their stories.

The acting, regrettably, does not elevate the material. Performances often feel wooden and one-dimensional, as the actors fail to capture the depth and nuance required to portray the complex emotions that come with addiction and homelessness. It becomes increasingly difficult to empathize with or connect to any of the characters on screen, which only serves to further distance the viewer from the film's intended message.

Moreover, the movie's portrayal of homelessness and drug addiction is reductive and superficial. Instead of exploring the root causes and systemic issues that contribute to these problems, the film chooses to wallow in misery without providing any context or insight. This surface-level treatment of such weighty themes ultimately undermines the film's potential to raise awareness or generate empathy for those who are affected by these issues in real life.

In terms of cinematography and direction, the movie offers little to redeem itself. The bleak visuals, while perhaps intended to convey the grim realities of life on the streets, become monotonous and tiresome after a while. Similarly, the direction lacks any semblance of creativity or innovation that might have provided some respite from the unrelenting despair on screen.

In conclusion, this movie squanders its potential to shed light on important social issues by presenting a disjointed narrative, lacklustre performances, and an oversimplified portrayal of homelessness and addiction. Its utter lack of redeeming qualities makes it difficult to recommend this film to anyone looking for a compelling and insightful viewing experience. It is a bleak, unsatisfying film that leaves the audience feeling as empty and desolate as the lives of its characters.

I switched on expecting to see something gritty and heartfelt.

This is more like a documentary about a load of thieving, nomadic kinds who choose not to get a job and contribute.

Nothing happens at all. Talk about drugs, drink, more drugs. Then drugs again. Boring nonsense.