A Mind-Bending Dive into 20,000 Days on Earth

Hej! So, I finally got around to watching “20,000 Days on Earth,” this hybrid thing with Nick Cave, the baritone balladeer from Down Under. I went into this flick wondering if it’d be my cup of kaffe or more like the time I tried surströmming on a dare—an experience I’m still recovering from!

First off, the directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard have some serious guts. They mix documentary with a sort of cinematic diary, and it’s mind-bending and honestly, a little confusing at first. But then, it’s like having a long, weird fika with Cave. You sit there and you don’t really understand everything, but you’re compelled to listen, captivated by the depth of it all.

The film starts with Cave’s 20,000th day on Earth and spirals into reflections, dreams, and memories. It feels a bit like being in a Bergman film (without the existential dread hanging over like a dark Swedish winter).

And the appearances! Kylie Minogue, Ray Winstone—they pop up like old friends dropping by for coffee. It’s personal but slightly staged, like when you pretend not to be thrilled when someone brings kladdkaka, but inside, you’re like a kid on julafton.

There’s a bit where Cave visits the Nick Cave Archives—who even knew that was a thing? It hit me right in the feels, made me think of my old boxes of movie tickets and newspapers stashed in the attic. That feeling of preserving pieces of your past, y’know?

At times, it gets a bit naval-gazing for my liking. You might find yourself checking your watch like you do in a slow line at ICA. But then, a song kicks in, and you’re pulled back into his world.

So, should you watch it? If you love Nick Cave or have a sweet spot for creative storytelling, absolutely. If not, maybe try it anyway. Might surprise you like finding lingonberry jam when you expected raspberry.

Right then, off for another kopp kaffe. Catch you at the movies!

Check the trailer below