Wakefield: A Peek into the Quirkiness of Life’s Hide-and-Seek

So, let’s chat about “Wakefield.” You know, that film where Bryan Cranston decides to go AWOL from his everyday life? Yep, that’s the one. Imagine peering through the attic like Uncle Knut when he was secretly nibbling on those Christmas pastries. That’s kind of what Cranston’s character does here, minus the festive treats.

The story is a curveball, to say the least. Howard (Cranston), just bails on his wife, Jennifer Garner, and observes life through the window of their garage attic. Like, why? The director, Robin Swicord, offers us a cocktail of existential musings with a sprinkle of voyeurism, which may not be everyone’s cup of kaffe. But there’s something almost… poetic about it. Or is it just me romanticizing the oddity?

Bryan Cranston, man, he’s got a knack for embodying the flawed, relatable dude. Sometimes, while watching him, it reminded me of when we used to play hide-and-seek as kids during long sommar breakfasts, hiding behind Granma’s curtains hoping no one would find us. Maybe that’s what Howard is going for—just a prolonged game of grown-up hide-and-seek.

The film’s pacing was like trying to walk in Stockholm’s cobbled streets without spilling your latte. A bit tricky and uneven. But hey, isn’t life like that too? I felt a bit iffy about the ending though. Left me hanging like when you’re waiting for the last Martin Beck installment on a chilly Sunday.

In a nutshell, “Wakefield” strays from the norm just like a quirky art piece you stumble across in a Södermalm gallery. It’s not perfect, but it prods at life’s peculiarities in a way that makes you think: maybe there’s more to our daily grind than we care to notice. I reckon I’ll give it another go when I’m in one of those introspective moods.

Check the trailer below