Abandoned – A Complex Exploration of Loneliness

I’ll admit, when I first heard about “Abandoned,” my immediate reaction was a raised eyebrow and a skeptical “okay then.” Espen Sandberg, known for his work on “Kon-Tiki,” directs here with a kind of serene menace that creeps up on you like that unexpected lagom day of summer we’re all hungry for here in Sweden.

Then there’s Emma Watson, who, let’s face it, still makes me whisper “Hermione” every time she appears on screen. But in “Abandoned,” she’s not whipping up magical potions; instead, she dives into layers of isolation with an intensity akin to a Nordic winter. Alongside her, Jake Gyllenhaal brings a rugged, gritty element, reminding me of the time I stumbled upon a lonely, windswept beach outside Gotland—both beautiful and terrifying.

The film’s plot rumbles along like a trusty old Volvo—solid, dependable but occasionally leaving you wondering if it’ll make those sharp turns. It’s visually stunning; the cinematographer’s lens captures the eerie silence of emptiness beautifully. The soundscapes resonate with echoes like the hollow sound of falling autumn leaves in Vasaparken.

But let’s get real, some bits of dialogue felt forced, as if someone tried translating from English to Swedish, losing a bit of that “känsla” along the way. Maybe it’s just me, but a few scenes had me thinking, “really, that’s it?” They could’ve used more meat on the bones, like a good svensk köttbullar, if you ask me.

That said, “Abandoned” is an experience, nudging us Swedes to reflect on our own moments of feeling lost, yet yearning for connection. There’s a haunting beauty in its silence, an invitation to embrace solitude, if only to know oneself a bit deeper. Watch it, feel it, and maybe, like me, let Emma and Jake’s journey stir up a bit of personal introspection—because let’s face it, we all know that sense of being “left out” in one way or another.

Check the trailer below