Pete Smalls Is Dead: A Quirky Journey into Indie Filmmaking

The other night, I stumbled upon the peculiar treasure that is “Pete Smalls Is Dead.” Directed by Alexandre Rockwell, who I might have run into at a filmfest bazaar in Stockholm a few years back. He always struck me as this unassuming genius with a knack for the unusual.

This film’s lineup is something else—Peter Dinklage, of all people, is the lead. You might remember him as Tyrion Lannister, a bad boy in armour, but here, he’s meandering through a wacky LA world on a quest that’s half detective work, half mind trip. They’ve got Steve Buscemi flexing his weird charm too. The man can just glance sideways at the camera, and I’m sold!

Starting off, it took me back to a weird encounter I had while on a train in Malmö. I accidentally sat next to a cult filmmaker who was arguing with a cat sitter on the phone. Life’s random, just like this film. Sometimes you don’t know where you’re headed, but you’re drawn in anyway.

The story’s wild, full of quirky twists and characters who feel like they’re plucked straight out of a graphic novel. But it’s not just noise—there’s heart here. You see loyalty tested, friendships stretched thin—it’s deadpan funny but also kinda touching. One sec you’re chuckling, the next you’re pondering friendship’s fragility.

Honestly, the narrative’s a bit messy—sort of like the layout of an IKEA assemble-it-yourself cupboard. But that’s part of its indie charm, I suppose. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But if you’ve got a taste for the offbeat and a love for indie flicks that don’t spoon-feed you, give this one a whirl. Have some snus or lingonberry jam handy; they both go well with this trip!

Check the trailer below