beyond

bleak is the word i read most about this one
several reviews warning of a challenging watch
but i do like a foreign film - this one swedish
leading lady is the very impressive noomi rapace
her first role since portraying elisabeth salander
the star of the the girl with/who millenium series
so that alone good enough reason to take this one in
in this film she is leena happily married to johan
he played by noomi rapace's real life husband
they have 2 children acted by siblings
it starts out on a christmas morning
the family bliss interrupted by a phone call
leena's estranged mother is dying and wants a visit
and then we are plunged back in time to learn more
her mother and father are finnish immigrants
he's struggling with language and alcohol
she is doing her best to be a good wife and mother
he's not so bad himself until the demon drink hits
abuse and violence is served out to his wife
and their 2 young children look on in despair
leena has to care for her younger brother
little sakari is wide-eyed and scared
she seeks solace in the swimming pool
under water being her best escape
she provides sakari the same at bathtime
the film smoothly jumps between past and present
and in no contrived way tells us the obvious
teach your children well - is good - otherwise - is bad
leena and her brother exposed to more than children should
clever shifts in time tell us why adult leena is as she is
and not far removed from her famous role as elisabeth
but thankfully here also with a beauty in and out
it's all quite riveting really - sad but true
and a scandinavian edge that now seems common
bleak - inadvertently - quirky - definitely
empathy for all the characters in this film
the message - circumstances are everything
the formative years are not ours by choice
if you are strong and a survivor then good
but here poor little sakari is doomed
and leena carries the loss into her adult life
secrecy is her choice until the phone call
then her suppressed emotions are released
thankfully redemption follows soon after
one reviewer said beyond has a glib ending
fluent and easy, often in an insincere or deceptive way
the total opposite to what i was feeling - empathetic
feeling resulting from sympathy or compassion
this is a serious and seriously good film
so good to see noomi rapace eschewing stardom
good on her - she's going to do things her way
so actor not totally removed from character