Beyond-Svinalängorna (2010)

Directed by: Pernilla August | 94 minutes | drama | Actors: Noomi Rapace, Ola Rapace, Outi Mäenpää, Ville Virtanen, Tehilla Blad, Junior Blad, Alpha Blad, Selma Cuba, Minna Haapkylä, Håkan Bengtsson, Julia Öhrström-Jönsson, Lotten Roos, Rasmus Troedsson, Simon J. Berger, Kerstin Andersson , Björn Johansson, Anette Lindbäck, Eva Järinge, Anders Beckman

‘Beyond’ is another masterful piece of Scandinavian cinema that you can indulge in as an enthusiast. Pernilla August’s film is a fiercely realistic family drama in which alcoholism and domestic violence set the tone. That makes it not exactly the kind of movie that you watch while leaning back, but is that a reason to skip the movie? That is definitely a misconception! ‘Beyond’ is such a genuine and genuine movie gem that grabs you by the throat and that you shouldn’t miss (even if the tone may be bleak). In addition to all the drama, the story also has a positive message in it. So go see!

When Leena (Noomi Rapace) and Johan (Ola Rapace, also her husband in real life) are brought breakfast in bed by their daughters, everyone is still in a blissful mood. The phone rings, Leena’s mother completely overwhelms her from the hospital. She is dying and wants to see daughter Leena one more time. Husband Johan and the children knew absolutely nothing about the existence of Leena’s mother. Leena is clearly shocked and refuses to visit her mother, but Johan manages to convince her. A long journey with the whole family to Leena’s dying mother can begin. Long-disappeared memories run through her head during the journey. Johan is stunned, he cannot imagine the past that apparently burdens her so heavily.

During the journey, flashbacks make it clear which dramas took place in her youth. Her Finnish parents had moved to Sweden and completely failed there. Their initially somewhat ‘heavy’ drinking turns into complete alcoholism. We are presented with the total demise of a family that is no longer able to pull itself out of the swamp. That demise is becoming more and more inevitable. As a young girl, Leena desperately tries with all her strength to take over the role of her failing parents. She runs the household and takes care of her brother and also her almost continuously intoxicated parents. It is impressively depicted how Leena’s parents sometimes attack each other completely drunk, in which Leena and her brother are powerless witnesses. Yet, in their better moments, Leena’s parents try desperately to give them love in an almost touching way.

When Leena has arrived at the hospital, she eventually confronts her critically ill mother, who also wants to condone the past. If he says ‘that they had fun too’, the bomb explodes.

Noomi Rapace became world famous for her role in the Millennium series. Also in ‘Beyond’ she masterfully interprets her mixture of feelings of being tormented and mangled between sadness, hatred and feelings of guilt. The roles of her father and mother are also played heartbreakingly by Ville Virtanen and Outi Maenpaa. A more than convincing performance is also delivered by Tehilla Blad, who plays the role of the young Leena. A great acting performance that is perhaps just as strong as that of the now acclaimed Noomi Rapace. Director Pernilla August (himself a well-known actress) makes her dream directorial debut with a rock-solid film (also the Swedish entry for the Oscars).

‘Beyond’ is a penetrating film that gets under your skin and stays there for a long time!