Keillers park (2006)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Susanna Edwards

Writer:

Pia Gradvall (writer)

Release Date:

24 March 2006 (Sweden)

Cast

Mårten Klingberg	...	Peter Andreis Feldmanis
Pjotr Giro	...	Nassim Ghabbar (as Piotr Giro)
Roberto Jelinek	...	Kevin (as Robert Jelinek)
Gösta Bredefeldt	...	Juris
Karin Bergquist	...	Maria
Maria Langhammer	...	Rodite (as Ia Langhammer)
Lina Mattsson	...	Rodites barn 1
Cayenne Odelberg	...	Rodites barn 2
Karin Sjöberg	...	Bettan
Jan Holmquist	...	Staaf
Tova Magnusson-Norling	...	Blom
Christian Rinmad	...	Jonas (as Christian Hollbrink)
Jonatan Rodriguez	...	Zaffa (as Jonatan Rodriquez)
Polly Kisch	...	Yasna
Mats Blomgren	...	Hasse

Runtime:

Germany:90 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Color | Black and White

Filming Locations:

Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Company:

Cine-Qua-Non

Interesting Tragedy

Keillers Park is an interesting flashback movie, that tells the story of Peter and Nassmin and how chance brought them together and how chance separated them. Though the movie uses flashback moments, which have been done so often in so many films, you don't have a hard time distinguishing between present and past time.

The actors are what make this film. The script can seem credible and not plausible at the same time. However, the male leads are so committed to their characters that you can believe what is happening to them.

The director does a good job of using different types of lights or colors to convey different aspects of the film, in addition to the flashbacks. Peter and Nassim's first sexual encounter is bathed in the glow of sunset and candles (as are all their love scenes, except for one, which is bathed in moonlight, and the sexual roles are reversed). Peter's look of awe, and an almost virgin like awareness of what he is experiencing, and then his ability to let his body take over, is just some great acting by Marten Klingberg. Their encounter is very gentle and soft and not exploitive. Nassim on the other hand is overly campy at times, but you care for him, and see he is more the child in the relationship that craves constant attention and wants the feeling of the first time to be constant. Nassim is who he is and has no pretense in contrast with Peter, who seems repressed, and has to shed a lot of things, including is family and fiancée. Nassim doesn't seem aware of all that Peter is losing to be with him and when they argue or Peter won't sleep with Nassim, that sees to be the reason why.

The interrogation room is in black and white and is a bit like a teenager having to account for his actions to his parents. This film is full of relationships and doors (literally) being broken down. It speaks to sexual and psychological repression very well. The foreshadowing done in the film, Nassim has dreams about being attacked and has a close call, lets you know something will happen to him. I know a part of this story is based on an actual murder, but the murder at the end, seemed unreal. Maybe that was the point, a senseless murder.

At one point I wasn't sure if this film was supposed to take place in the present or past. It seemed as if the film maker wanted it to be in the past, (the beginning dinner scene, the fiancée seems to wear a bun straight out of the 50's, Nassim's apartment has hippy beads), I wasn't sure. I think the director decided to go with modern times. So I was unclear as to if everyone finding out Peter was gay was almost an overreaction or just how people really act, which I am going to believe is the director's intent. People say they are progressive, until it comes down to a member of their own family.

This film is dark and sad, but enjoyable.