Border

Border is a provocative and chilling Swedish movie that challenges viewer's perceptions while offering an unconventional but compelling narrative about identity, otherness, and love. Directed by the acclaimed Iranian-Swedish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, Border premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2018 where it was awarded the Un Certain Regard prize. The film is based on the short story "Border," written by John Ajvide Lindqvist, the bestselling author of "Let the Right One In".

The film's protagonist is a deeply lonely individual named Tina, played with extraordinary commitment and physical transformation by Eva Melander. Tina isn’t what one would call conventionally attractive. With her thick-set body, fundamentally different facial features, and animal-like sense of smell, she’s spent her life bearing the brunt of demeaning jokes and distasteful ridicule from others. However, her unique attributes also allow her to have an uncanny ability to smell fear, guilt and aggression, making her a perfect fit as a customs officer at a Swedish ferry port.

Tina's humdrum existence begins to change dramatically when she meets Vore, portrayed by Eero Milonoff. He is an enigmatic figure who looks curiously similar to her. Vore's arrival in Tina's life comes as a shock. Their immediate and unusual connection leads Tina on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance that opens up a whole new facet of her existence and challenges the very ideas she had of her own identity.

As the relationship between Tina and Vore deepens, Border plots an intriguing course that flipping between a gritty crime-drama and an supernatural fable, from a character-driven drama to a thought-provoking exploration of identity and difference. We see an escalation of strange events from smuggling investigations, to mystical encounters in the dense, rugged Nordic wilderness. The film’s brooding atmosphere is amplified by the beautifully captured wild and desolate Swedish landscape, the haunting score of Christoffer Berg and Martin Dirkov, and the world-class makeup and prosthetic design by Göran Lundström and Pamela Goldammer.

The film swirls around themes of otherness, human nature, and societal norms. It raises profound questions about what constitutes being human and the struggle of not fitting in. By using the fantastical to examine the reality of marginalization, the film draws attention to those who are often relegated to the fringes of society.

Eva Melander and Eero Milonoff give genuinely powerful and transformative performances that make the audience empathize with their unique characters. Their physical transformations are underscored by a humanity that stands out in the moody and atmospheric cinematography. This movie isn't for everyone, due to its hybrid blend of dark comedy, crime saga, and surreal romance. However, its idiosyncratic storytelling and striking visuals make "Border" a truly compelling watch.

In summary, Border is a captivating movie that explores what it means to be different and pushes the boundaries of storytelling. It is an intriguing blend of fantasy and reality that manages to cross the border into uncharted cinematic terrain. For those in search of a film that ventures beyond conventional genres and offers an entirely unique cinematic experience, Border is an excellent choice.