An ingenious and twisted blend of crime drama and supernatural romance, this thrillingly unpredictable Swedish film from the writer of Let the Right One In delivers a fresh spin on Nordic mythology.
An exciting, intelligent mix of romance, Nordic noir, social realism and supernatural horror that defies and subverts genre conventions.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2018
Border 2018
Gräns
Based on a short story from Let the Right One In author John Ajvide Lindqvist, this genre-defying supernatural romantic thriller draws us into the mysterious life of a gifted outsider. Iranian-born Swedish filmmaker Ali Abbasi has adapted and expanded Lindqvist’s cunning tale with assistance from the author himself and Isabella Eklöf, director of sun-soaked shocker Holiday.
Stout and ruddy with a puffed-up face and a pronounced overbite, customs officer Tina is used to being ignored, but her unique talent for literally sniffing out illegal contraband makes her an invaluable team member at the ferry port she works. She lives with a boyfriend who is more interested in his growling show dogs than spending any time with her. Tina only feels truly at home in the verdant woods surrounding her home, bonding with the wild animals that live there.
One day a strange man passes through the port that sends Tina’s senses tingling, but a search for contraband comes up empty. The man, Vore, shares a similar appearance to Tina and she soon becomes obsessed with finding more about him, but in doing so uncovers a dark secret about herself. — MM
“A gripping drama that rests on the strength of its two leads’ performances… Unique, unforgettable and cathartic, Border is an oddball, but poignant cult classic in the making. Abbasi’s sincerity wisely avoids caricature and mocking his marginalized characters and in doing so he crafts a surprisingly humanist and artful story of love for the diminished and dismissed outsiders of the world.” — Jordan Ruimy, The Playlist