This Must Be the Place: A Peculiar Journey

So, I finally got around to watching “This Must Be the Place,” directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Sean Penn, you know, the brooding guy we all love, stars as Cheyenne, a retired rock star with a look that screams Robert Smith from The Cure but somehow in a quirkier, more somber manner. I mean, the dude’s got eyeliner thicker than a Swedish winter night. Imagine that.

The plot is as strange as a midsommar festival in December. Cheyenne’s off on this unlikely road trip across America and, believe it or not, he’s hunting down his father’s Nazi tormentor. Yep, that’s right. Serious issues mixed with rock’n’roll melancholy—what a cocktail!

I remember once, I went through my dad’s old record collection—jazz, rock, a pinch of that resilient Swedish folk. There’s something about rummaging through the past that feels like time travel, you know? It reminds me a bit of Cheyenne’s journey. You can’t find that in any guidebook. It’s personal and universal at the same time.

Cinematically, it’s beautiful—Sorrentino’s got this knack for capturing oddities in ordinary life. The landscape shots are almost poetic. I mean, who knew desolate American highways had so much personality? And then there’s David Byrne, the legend himself, popping in with his musical wit. It’s like finding Vasaloppet on TV when you least expect it.

But, to be honest, the pacing’s like waiting for the snö in April—could’ve been tighter. Sometimes you’re just waiting, like “Come on already!” Despite that, Penn’s performance makes up for it. His vulnerability drifts between cringe-worthy and endearing, much like attempting to explain ‘fika’ to a non-Swede.

So, if you’ve got a spare evening and fancy something offbeat, give it a shot. It’s like life—confusing, beautiful, and unexpectedly meaningful.

Check the trailer below