MOVIE: Popular Music @@@

Popular Music @@@
(Populär musik från Vittula)
(Sweden)

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2005

First Impressions: A swedish movie set in lapland that, like the people who live there, doesn't know if it's Swedish or Finnish. An enjoyable film about family life that is funny at times, and somewhat similar to Effing Åmål by Lukas Moodysson.

Plot: The story of two boys growing up in small town lapland seeking heir identities and a way out of their trapped existence - through a shared liking of Rock n' Roll.

What we taught our kids about Lapland: Well kids, it doesn't always snow in lapland, all they do is drink moonshine, fight and listen to Rock n' Roll. Ok, well, it is set in the 1960s and I'm sure they don't live that way anymore and spend their days sipping Lattes in coffee houses - not.

Verdict: Quite a charming film that feels like it comes from Finland. This movie probably makes a hell of a lot more sense if you are Scandinavian. A good adaptation of the successful book.