Midsommar

Midsommar 2019

• Director: Ari Aster
• Others seen by this director: Hereditary
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, Henrik Norlén, Gunnel Fred
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Florence Pugh – Fighting with My Family
• Jack Reynor – Sing Street, Macbeth
• Will Poulter – The Maze Runner, Son of Rambow
• Ellora Torchia – Broadchurch
• Gunnel Fred – Svensson Svensson, Snoken
• Why? Curious
• Seen: 19 June 2020      

       Happy Midsummer, everyone. Here in Sweden Midsummer Eve is as big as Christmas, only not this year because of Corona. So, for us, this film instead.

       Dani (Pugh) suffers a family tragedy. Her boyfriend Christian (Reynor), who has wanted to break up with her (his friends know, she doesn’t), goes to Sweden with his friends, including Pelle (Blomgren). Dani tags along.

       So. Välkomna till Sverige. To a sort of hippie commune in Hälsingland, a four-hour drive north of Stockholm (near where good friends of ours have a cottage). Pelle and his friends pass drugs around.

       Oh, this is creepy. We have had some strange Midsummer Eves but not like this. I promise you, this is not how Swedes celebrate Midsummer! Sweden isn’t really like this. Sweden is a good place to live. Swedes are (about 83 % anyway) kind and rational people. Honest!

       But oh, this film! Creepy, funny, well-acted, imaginative, clever, beautifully filmed, and absolutely riveting.

4 * of 5