Directed by:
Ali AbbasiCinematography:
Nadim CarlsenComposer:
Martin DirkovCast:
Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson, Viktor Åkerblom, Matti Boustedt, Andreas Kundler, Ibrahim Faal, Henrik Johansson, Sten Ljunggren, Ann Petrén (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Tina is a customs agent with a nose for trouble. She can literally smell human emotions, which is a handy talent for sniffing out suspicious border crossers. But when a mysterious male traveller's scent confounds her, she's faced with hugely disturbing insights about who she is and what she wants. (MUBI)
Videos (3)
Reviews (8)
LGBTT..? Nordic noir, supernatural horror, and realism—both magical and social—layered onto a love story and a quest for identity as part of a minority. Ali Abbasi, trolling the audience, designed it this way because practically anything can follow a love story, but it must be strong enough to support it. It’s a pity that the sun didn’t come out during the erotic scene; if it had been a rock, it would have made it even more intense.
()
It’s important you find out the least possible about this film prior to watching it. Knowing the background of the characters in advance would definitely ruin the surprises in store for you. With its raw repulsive scenes and slow tempo, Border offers a really bizarre and grim experience that will put off more viewers than it will gain. The filming is subtle and the acting performance, splendid (kudos to the central duo of actors). That being said, a swifter pace of the storyline wouldn’t hurt. My appreciation is scaled down due to the long-winded ending, yet I enjoyed the film’s singularity. [KVIFF 2018]
()
What a bizarre film. Initially, I thought I'd complain about the slow pacing, but honestly, I can't imagine this story told at a breakneck speed. Yes, it's definitely a slow burn, so action movie lovers might last twenty minutes tops, but I actually enjoyed the result of this Swedish-Danish collaboration. Anthropology enthusiasts should definitely give this film a watch for its fascinating glimpse into a blind alley of evolutionary development. On the other hand, dentists and their sensitive patients might want to skip it. The filmmakers have created a truly unique genre mashup; one moment, you're watching a heartfelt, melancholic drama, and the next, you're trying to erase from your memory some bizarre forest scenes convincing you that the ultimate sexual experience involves a fungal infection. I've seen a lot in my years, so I'm not pretending to be shocked or disgusted. But I wouldn't recommend it to the younger, less worldly audience or the more delicate aesthetes. Despite Tina's unusual appearance and eccentric behavior, I found her quite endearing. I wasn't bored for a second, despite the leisurely pace. / Lesson Learned: A moose is a troll's best friend.
()
My first impressions of the film were very mixed. Interesting story, interesting characters, very beautiful style, but something was missing. After revealing important insights to everything that happens to the two main characters, my experience of the film was strong. The fact that we don't know these facts from the beginning of the film is tremendously cool, because the film allows you to wake up your thoughts and experience Tina's story through her eyes - in not knowing. I give tremendous praise to the film's conclusion - or rather, the metaphorical last third of the film - for its engaging take on an ordinary story.
()
Border has a detective storyline that strays into festival-movie bizarreness with diverse thoughtgerms.
Despite what seems like elements of fantasy, we remain firmly rooted in reality, which makes
it all the more frightening and disturbing. The creator calls it “Nordic realism”. It is a psychological,
physical and, in some places, perhaps even repulsive experience for some, but always socially
reflective and comrehensible from all angles. Plus, there’s some comic relief, which is probably
deliberate, but I’m not sure. [Cannes]
()
Ads