The World Made Straight: A Twist of Fate and Pine Needles

Let me tell ya, I stumbled across “The World Made Straight” the other day. Directed by David Burris, it’s a film that’s got one leg in the past and one in the future, and it’s sorta like when you’re skiing at Sälen and that unexpected gust of wind nearly knocks you off your feet. You expect a leisurely trip down, but then you get a face full of snow. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of excitement, right?

Jeremy Irvine plays Travis, a young guy with a foot stuck in two worlds, trying to escape his roots in the Appalachian mountains. No surprises there with Irvine, who somehow always manages to look a bit too clean-cut for his own good. Then there’s the ever-astonishing Noah Wyle, who brings a whisper of sophistication to the grubby setting as Leonard, a disgraced teacher with his own demons.

Now, what really grounded me was the film’s sense of history. It’s like when my morfar would rabbit on about the Västerbotten cheese shortages during the 50s—full of quirks that make you go, “Åh, det var väl intressant.” The Civil War past, whispering all ghost-like, adds layers to the characters’ struggles. But, like any nosy Swede, I sometimes felt I was missing the bigger picture, like when you walk by a closed bakery in Stockholm and the bread smell teases you.

Anyway, the movie does have its moments of drag. Some scenes stretch longer than a mörk vinterdag, but there’s a satisfaction to the slow burn. Kinda like fika; you don’t rush fika, do you? It reminds you about those parts of life that aren’t all Dalarna red and blue skies: complicated, shadowy, yet completely real.

So if you’re ready for a film that feels like a conversation with an old uncle about things that matter, plunk down with a cup of strong coffee and let “The World Made Straight” mull over alongside you. But maybe skip it if you just wanna see pretty shots of lush landscapes. Go for a walk here in Sweden for that!

Check the trailer below