Skenbart: En film om tåg

...and this movie easily exceeded my expectations. The fact that it is written and directed by Peter Dalle led me to believe it was in style with other films I'm used to (and bored with) seeing him in. Anyway, I grudgingly went along to see this flick and that I'm glad for. This stuff has humour and depth. 9 out of 10. See it!

In December 1945 a train leaves the central station of Stockholm for Berlin. There aren't much left when it arrives. Not of the train and not of some passengers.

This is a black comedy directed by Peter Dalle and acted like they used to act in the 40s and also photographed (in b/w) like they used to during that period. The actors must have had lots of fun making it. They aren't much of characters, like they weren't in the 40s, but the story is well narrated and everybody has timing.

A deadly black and deadly funny film. See it, if you didn't think the Swedes were capable of humour.

An interesting comedy, taking place on a train from Stockholm to Berlin, December 1945. One can't help to feel sorry for the poor writer/critic who quits his job and jumps on the train to Berlin. His ambition is to make a difference, and to participate in building the new unified Europe after the war has ended.

I like the black and white format of the movie, as well as the closed scenery of a train in motion.

Robert Gustafsson makes a classic "Gustafsson-role" in this movie. If you're a fan of him, this movie is for you!

The philosopher Wittgenstein, through his saying "One can never assume that anything is what it seems to be", is referenced several times in the movie.

This solid black and white slapstick comedy with a dark (but hopelessly contrived) plot is a true crowd pleaser that will have you howling with laughter (as well as rolling your eyes with disbelief).

It's the old psychopath on a train story but that is of no big importance as the thriller portion of the film almost seems to be merely a counterweight to the antics of the great comedian Robert Gustafsson. His hapless, nearly incurably optimistic soldier invokes both compassion and schadenfreude in a fashion that almost rivals Chevy Chase.

The thing about the film that appealed to me the most, however, is that wedged between the improbable and the hilarious are the accurately portrayed everyday joys and nuisances of train travel. They add a most welcome sense of realism and recognition.

This thriller comedy has admittedly borrowed most of its "suspense" from Hitchcock and should, in my opinion, only be watched for its comedy value (which is high indeed). Besides Gustafsson, Lars Amble's solid performance as a delightfully cynical misogynist is worth the price of admission alone.

Heartily recommend.

Audiences should be used by now to Peter Dalles special brand of film-making. One could easily say that he is a man with a rather cruel view of humanity, and this also shows. His sense of humor is not for the weak-hearted and dark as coal. This however is both more accessible and more elaborate than his previous works.

Gunnar is a literary critic who wants to change his life. This is just after World War 2 and Gunnar decides to go to Germany where there is work rebuilding the country. He wants to make a difference. He gets on the train to Berlin along with a gallery of other personalities. Some of which have more sinister motives...

Seldom have i seen a noir murder story mixed with slapstick-comedy. And i guess this is not for everyone, but in my opinion it works pretty well. Mostly due to solid acting from most of the cast. The murder story is quite interesting, but would perhaps have a had hard time standing by itself. But with the small side-tracks and the humor added the movie moves along quite nicely. Also i have to say that this is one of the nicest-looking Swedish movies i've seen. The technical quality is excellent in Swedish terms.

So, no movie is perfect. What is lacking? Well some of the actors, especially Anna Björk and Kristina Törnqvist in the two largest female parts, are quite wooden and unnatural. They could just as well be reading their lines from a piece of paper. Also the slapstick has a rather brutal touch to it sometimes that becomes almost too much. But of course this is a matter of taste and humor.

All in all i felt this was a well-made and enjoyable movie from director Peter Dalle. I rate it 6/10 and recommend it.