Three Miles North of Molkom (2009)

Directed by: Corinna McFarlane, Robert Cannan | 102 minutes | documentary

‘Three Miles North of Molkom’ is a documentary that is serious on the one hand, but which at the same time also has a high humorous content. The film is about the ‘No Mind Festival’ in Sweden that has been taking place there for about twelve years. The directors Corinna McFarlane and Robert Cannan follow a number of participants literally and figuratively on the skin and into their deepest thoughts. A title like ‘adults’ playground’ might be a good alternative, but then it would seem as if it is not meant seriously there. In reality, this festival is more than a happening or party for the participants. For them, the meeting is of great significance, a microcosm and place of action for ‘real-life human drama’.

During the recordings we follow a number of participants. Siddharta is the prototype of a kind of Swedish Viking, tall, blond and athletic. Mervi is an assertive Finnish grandmother who has been attending this festival for years. Nick, an Australian, provides a lot of humor. Through a Norwegian friend whom he visited after a trip around the world, he accidentally ended up at this festival. He is quite cynical about what he finds there and with his typical comments often lifts the story and the events into a highly humorous comedy. It is precisely because of his spontaneous and radical honesty and his Australian ‘no worries’ mentality that he is accepted and respected by the participants. Ljus is the stereotype of the hippie and former goatherd. His contribution in the film is actually inexpressible in value, because with his appearance and views he satisfies almost all prejudices. Other participants are the beautiful and blond Marit, Peter, who has two children and Regina, a well-known Swedish actress, singer and poet. A critical outsider sees his expectations about such sessions somewhat fulfilled. The trees are embraced, the participants constantly hug each other, people walk over hot coals, visit sweat lodges, caress each other, ‘discover’ themselves, ‘explore’ the other and talk about it in circle discussions. By only using that view, the film and the participants would be really short-changed. This colorful group spontaneously leads to many fascinating group events. They are and remain themselves, the diversity of the group makes the film a nice psychological and cinematographic adventure in which the seekers for the ultimate truth or the higher reach their goal, but which the neutral film viewer will also enjoy watching.

The calm camerawork and the natural light contribute to the atmosphere surrounding this film. The makers of the documentary have succeeded in not making it a company of weirdos and to approach the participants of this ‘playground’ with respect and humor. This is partly due to the chosen approach. The distance between the viewer and the participant is much less because the makers gave the participants the opportunity to reveal their story and their motivations. As a result, you as a viewer also share the experiences with the group and the individual participants. That is mainly the merit of those participants, they give the film shape and content.

An interesting documentary about people who are looking for … well, what exactly? and who in this film make themselves vulnerable, but above all open up. A film worth seeing, a smile and a big smile are guaranteed. ‘Life is vurrukkulluk’, Remco Campert once wrote. ‘Three Miles North of Molkom’ is a feel-good film that fits this motto perfectly.