A Midsummer’s Hawaiian Dream: A Samla Röra of Sand, Sea, and Surrealism

Let’s talk about “A Midsummer’s Hawaiian Dream.” This movie, directed by none other than the legendary Hal Leontides and featuring the ever-quirky Cate Blanchett, takes us on a wild ride from Sweden’s midsummer to Hawaii’s big waves. Talk about a contrast—like going from pickled herring to a Hawaiian luau! I mean, who thought of this mash-up?

The film is a strange combo, to say the least. I can’t decide if it’s genius or completely bonkers. Maybe both? You know how they have those food fests with things like bacon ice cream? It kinda reminded me of that. Seeing Alexander Skarsgård clumsily navigate the Hawaiian surf while singing Swedish summer songs somehow felt both awkward and oddly familiar—like seeing your old classmate from gymnasiet try something ridiculously new.

So, back in the summer of ’93, I had my own midsummer adventure—minus the Hawaiian setting. My cousins and I celebrated on an island in the archipelago, dancing around the maypole and getting sunburned. If only we’d had Cate and an ice-cold piña colada to complete the scene. It’s these memories the movie really taps into, the nostalgia of midsummer magic, and the freedom of island life. Hal Leontides captures that bliss perfectly, but sometimes I feel like it’s lost in the waves—literally and metaphorically.

Okay, here’s the twist. The movie’s about finding your place where you least expect it, and honestly, I think the noise of life often drowns that hope out. But, you know, watching it felt like finding an old cassette from your teenage years you thought you lost. You cringe at the music, but you love the feel of the memories rushing back.

In the end, it’s a film that might not change your life, but it’s delightful in its own quirky, sun-drenched, fish-out-of-water way. Maybe you’ll see it like a flygande jakob, mixing bananas with curry when you’re just not sure if it’s going to work, but still it hits the spot.

Go see it, grab a warm kanelbulle, and let yourself float away into the improbable absurdity of “A Midsummer’s Hawaiian Dream.” Skål!

Check the trailer below