Grace of Who?

Ok, så let’s talk about “Grace of Monaco,” a film that feels a little like fish soup at a fancy restaurant — elegant, yet with a whiff of something fishy. Directed by Olivier Dahan, famous for “La Vie en Rose,” you’d expect a mesmerizing biopic, but this flick kind of left me scratching my head.

Nicole Kidman plays Grace Kelly, with a performance that’s like drinking far too strong Glogg. Warm and spicy, yet overwhelming at times. She’s joined by Tim Roth, who portrays Prince Rainier with a sort of brooding charm that’s more grumpy tomte than princely.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The film is set in the early 60s, a time when Monaco could’ve just as easily been Örnsköldsvik for us Swedes — a small place, confused about its identity, torn between charm and, uh, questionable policies. You can feel that tension, like the smell of kåldolmar lingering around. It’s intriguing, but only up to a point.

And oh, those costumes! They’re like something out of a Pippi Longstocking dream, colorful and lavish, that even made me want to raid my gamla mormor’s wardrobe. But I’ve got to wonder — did the film spend more on hats than on storytelling? It feels like that sometimes.

A Royal Memory

I remember visiting a small cinema in Gotland one rainy evening where the only warmth was from an old popcorn machine and older lady running it, just like this movie – warm but soggy at points. Amazing sights but slightly too much fluff for my taste. Much like my weird crush on Nils Petter growing up, this film was a bit mysterious yet utterly confounding.

I mean, maybe the film just isn’t my style, yeah? But Grace of Monaco aspires to be a grand painting, yet ends up a lovely doodle in the margins of Monaco’s history book. It’s a curious blend of glamour and meh — like a mismatched pair of wool socks that are still kind of cozy. Maybe worth a watch for Nicole but don’t expect a warm Swedish hug of a story. But hej, maybe that’s just me.

Check the trailer below