Wednesday, September 26, 2018

TIFF '18 Film Review - Border

Tina a heavily made-up neanderthal looking (Eva Melander) is a Swedish customs agent with an uncanny knack for spotting those attempting to smuggle or sneak items into the country. She can pick up on body language or a change in sent that a guilty or nervous exudes. Her skills are 100% foolproof until a male traveler Vore (Eero Milonoff) walks past her station and she has no read on him at all.


Director Ali Abbasi who was born in Iran but now rooted in Denmark takes his story from John Ajvide Lindqvist's short story Let the Right One In. Abbasi plays heavily on Tina's comfort with the forest and wild animals. He even brings in a secondary plot where the police employee her skills in a child pornography investigation a natural progression and use of her natural skills.

At home on the outskirts of town, Tina lives with Roland (Jorgen Thorsson) he is more interested in his fighting dogs then Tina but stays around for the free accommodations and the easy access to her bedroom when the mood hits. Her dad (Sten Ljunggren) living in a senior's home suffering from Dementia is happy when Tina comes to visit as she allows him to sneak a smoke but he constantly pushes her to kick Roland out as he is only taking advantage of her.

Tina's and Vore cross paths again leading her to offer him the unoccupied guest house. The pair have a special connection that unravels as the film moves along. Roland is not a fan seeing Vore as creepy wondering why she has invited someone that she knows nothing about to stay on the property.

Border is a film about folklore and mythical figures that inhabit Scandinavian culture. Tina has to decide if she wants to get along in regular society or side with Vore and blow everything up. Her choice will have a great impact on today and the future of herself and her line for generations to come. Abbasi turns his camera on the beautiful aspects of Tina's gifts but is as equally focused on the startling elements of her nature that gives birth to these traits. Its a unique story based on the works of a writer with a strong grasp of the underworld, supernatural and fantasy that I can recommend.

***1/2 Our of 4

Border | Ali Abbasi | Sweden/Denmark | 2018 | 180 Minutes.

Tags: Customs, Inspection, Search, Child, Pornorgraphy, Deer, River, Forest,  Baby, Ferry, Tail.


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