Disappearances: The Makeshift Adventure of the Mundane

Hallå, cinephiles! So, I’ve just seen ‘Disappearances’. The film sort of got me feeling like I was climbing Södermalm’s steep hills—exciting yet occasionally exhausting.

It’s directed by Jay Craven, an intriguing chap with a knack for capturing life’s gritty edges. And starring Kris Kristofferson, who, let’s be honest, could probably make a köttbulle recipe sound cinematic. I mean, there’s just something about his rough-hewn voice that resonates like a good old Johnny Cash record on a Sunday morning. Ah, nostalgia!

Now, the film itself is a rollercoaster, or maybe more like one of those Dalecarlian horse rides—charming yet a tad clunky. It’s like dunking a biscuit in your kaffe only to realize it’s soaking too long and, bam, it crumbles. The storyline has its moments, with eloquent twists but sometimes gets lost in its own ambition. It’s a bit of a curious puzzle, this film.

And speaking of puzzles, it reminded me of last summer’s fishing trip to the Swedish archipelago. We got a bit lost with no GPS, feeling like Kristofferson’s character—desperate yet curiously serene. The movie conjures that strange yet familiar dread of losing one’s way, while still instilling a peculiar comfort. You know, like when you find your lost glove at the bus stop after a week?

There’s this earthy, raw feel to the cinematography, much like a chilly Nordic autumn. You half expect to smell the forest moss and distant sea. It’s a sensory delight, I tell you. Except for a few odd pacing hiccups, like trying to rush home during a surprise Stockholm snow shower—everything’s going smoothly until it just… isn’t.

But, in all, ‘Disappearances’ makes you ponder. Perhaps not the kind you’ll pen in Karlstad University’s philosophy journal, but it stirs thoughts. Think of it as a rustic buffet: diverse bites, with the inevitable overcooked meatball. An adventurous taste for curious souls out there daring enough to savor a bit of the unexpected Swedish magic hidden in a Vermont setting. Skål!

Check the trailer below