Head in the Clouds: A Whirlwind Romance with a Side of Cheese

Stellan’s accent never quite leaves your mind, does it? Speaking of which, Charlize Theron and Penélope Cruz in a film with Stuart Townsend at the helm—it’s a combo like ordering a kebab pizza with bearnaise sauce. You know, oddly intriguing, but you’re not entirely sure why you’re drawn to it.

“Head in the Clouds” flirts with the idea of style over substance. It’s a bit like wearing a summer scarf in Göteborg during November—looks fancy but leaves you cold when the wind blows. The film takes you into the whirlwind of the ’30s, with its fancy dress and scandalous romances. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke and fresh coffee in the Parisian cafés.

And yet, I found myself struggling to decide if it’s an earnest romance or just melodramatic fluff. It’s one of those films where the cinematographer—let’s give a nod to Paul Sarossy here—should receive more applause. The visuals, they’re sumptuous. Every shot could be a postcard, albeit an overly dramatic one.

I remember a summer a few years back in Stockholm, watching a street artist paint. The blending of colors was captivating, but you couldn’t quite tell what the picture was until he was done. This film feels like that unfinished canvas. Full of potential moments that promised to be profound but sometimes dissolved into clichés faster than a snowball in a sauna.

But hey, who doesn’t like a bit of chaotic romance wrapped in wartime intrigue? It struck me somewhat—glottal and almost annoyingly so—that even when films don’t fully land, they manage to swoop us off our feet, if just for a moment. So bring some popcorn, a cozy blanket, and maybe a good laugh with a friend. It won’t change your life, but maybe that’s not the point, is it?

Check the trailer below