The New Neighbour: A Puzzle Wrapped in a Mystery

Oh, folks! I remember sitting through “The New Neighbour,” or as they say across the pond, “The Truth About Emanuel,” with a sense of deja vu, like when I first tried pickled herring—both mysterious and intriguing. So, what can I say? This flick did tug on a few emotional strings but left me scratching my head at times. Stina, my neighbor from down the street, would probably call it a “lågoddsare”—an unpredictable bet—in that way.

Jessica Biel plays Linda, Emanuel’s mysterious neighbor, weaving her web of secrets. Biel, with her piercing gaze, throws in a performance that’s both unsettling and alluring. Kaya Scodelario as Emanuel, our conflicted protagonist, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Speaking of weight, seeing her struggle with grief brings to mind when I lost my first goldfish—tragic and confusing yet strangely life-affirming.

To be perfectly honest, I felt a bit like Lennart, my uncle in Borlänge, who famously once got lost in his own backyard; the movie meanders somewhere between a psychological drama and a thriller without quite fitting into either snugly. Francesca Gregorini, the mind behind this enigma, deserves kudos for crafting such a unique atmosphere, but I can’t shake off the feeling that something got lost in translation.

There’s a certain eerie quality, like when you’re walking back home during a Swedish vinterkväll and the snow muffles all sound. The film’s visual palette is like those dimly lit winter evenings—beautiful yet melancholic.

In the end, I think the movie might be a bit like salted licorice (godis) for some—an acquired taste. Maybe you walk away asking yourself existential questions, or maybe you just want your 90 minutes back. Either way, don’t let the mystique put you off too much. Give it a shot. Who knows, you just might find a bit of truth buried somewhere in the celluloid.

But hey, don’t take my word for it. Check it out and let me know what you think over an extra-strong coffee—bryggkaffe, of course!

Check the trailer below