Anyone seen "Songs from the Second Floor"?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

I just saw this Swedish movie, and it's fair to say I've never seen a movie quite like this. It's as far removed from a narrative film as I've ever seen, but the paper-thin "plot" centers around a few random characters in a very bleak, post-apocalyptic Sweden (!).

The camera almost never moves, and nearly the entire film features extreme long shots as characters slowly come into frame -- it felt more like watching a painting in progress, rather than a full-fledged story.

A lot of people may be turned off by its style, but if you're into more experimental films and/or can really appreciate the visual aesthetics of this movie, I highly recommend it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120263/

Screenshots:

[deucemagnet]

1. I rented it about a year ago.

I liked certain scenes, but I didn't really care for it overall. It was too long and depressing for my tastes.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Definitely depressing, though there were a few darkly comedic moments.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. Anybody else?

:shrug:

[deucemagnet]

4. I guess you and I are the only ones who troll the "foreign" section

of the rental store. You're right about the darkly comedic moments, though. I liked the scene with the crucifix salesman where Jesus was swinging by one arm.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. Yep.

I started cracking up when that happened.

[Haole Girl]

6. Thanks SA.

I'll ask my younger sister about it...I bet she's seen it.

If it's as depressing as it sounds, I better skip it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. It's been described as "funny Ingmar Bergman" and "depressing Groucho Marx."

But overall, a downer, for sure.