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Tama Hetki Kaislikossa (Finnish/English) [A Moment In The Reeds]

After 2 back to back just average films which seemed to have big potential failed to impress me, 2019 had not started on a very good note for me. I am glad I saw this film then. The film seems very authentic, seductive and romantic and something that as an audience you can connect with given the political climate around the world. Although t he film reminded me a lot of one of my fav films "God's Own Country" but this film itself has enough merit to stand on its own.

The story is pretty simple. Leevi, a handosme young Finnish guy has been living and studying in Paris and has just returned home to Finland for the summer to help his father renovate their old lake house. Leevi’s relationship with his father, is strained since he is an old-fashioned man. I believe he knows of Leevi's sexuality and doesn't approve of it. The father hires a young man, Tareq, through an agency who can help renovate the house . When Tareq arrives, he doesn't speak any Finnish and we get to know that he is a Syrian asylum seeker desperately looking to make a life for himself. When the father is called away for work, the two young men bond over beers and soon find themselves in bed together. This goes on for a couple of days till the father realizes and he fires Tareq with racial insults. Tareq's self respect is high enough for him to leave immediately, despite Leevi wanting to come with him but Tareq needs to be on his own to figure out stuff for himself. Love that could have been something so special is broken, just like that.

It's interesting how things are relative for each individual. Leevi found Finland to be suffocating and feels more at ease in Paris. Meanwhile Tareq sees Finland as a land of freedom and opportunity compared to Syria and his very conservative family. The film is very very real and the emotions are easy to connect with. The scene where Tareq is mad and unsure whether he wants his family to join him in Finland is brilliant. Its a brilliant depiction if family values of the middle-east and how family always comes first but its also about Tareq wanting to be free finally. How will he choose one over the other? Direction is brilliant with some amazing scenes overall. The built up of intimacy between Leevi and Tareq is filled with awkwardness but also love and passion. There are lots of silent moments that add to the authenticity of the film. Like someone said, "There’s an admirable quiet intensity to this film" and i cant agree more. The initial sex scenes eventually give them time to know each other better as people and it is very evident that both the boys are way too much into each other. They have both been looking for true meaningful love, yet its eluded them and this could be their chance. The chemistry between the 2 leads is 100% believable and magnificent. You can see they are in love and eventual pain after a sudden break-up, when rightfully so, Tareq's self-respect and dignity is bigger than anything else; even though if its not Leevi's fault. Its rare to see such amazing chemistry, completely natural with enough emotional and sexual intensity. Both men are forced to confront issues in their lives that have long been ignored.

This film is a low budget film but a very effective cinematography of the Finnish landscape and the magical chemsitry of the leads makes this film worth every minute. The actors are brilliant. Its slow, sensitive, poignant and hits the right emotions. This film lingers with you for long and I for once, want to get to know the sensitive refugee Tareq up and close. (8/10)

Comments

luigi43 said…
Finland , Iceland , Norway : are the eternal ices melting , at least in films?
Many titles gay themed , in movie and TV are really very interesting : Oroi , Rift , Salkkarit , Skam just to write some are worth to watch and save.
Golu said…
Nothing can or will beat Skam. One of the best concepts/shows and acting EVER !
These Nordic countries have their owm way of bringing cinema and ideas to screen. Some really good while others outright bad . lol
Alec Scudder said…
The pace at which the relationship develops and the extent of it, that it goes beyond just sex, was rich, more than expected. The lovemaking scenes were wonderful! I really cared about these two guys by the end of the film. Overall way better than I had expected for a relatively simple and low budget film. I have some Finnish heritage and so maybe I am somewhat biased to like this film because of that. Great review! Great blog, a real find for me!
Golu said…
And by the end of the film, when you care for its protagonists, you know the makers have done their job really well.
Welcome to my blog and here's to hoping you to continue to post your thoughts
Miisu said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miisu said…
For a Finnish film this was way better than I could have expected.

They talked about the awful winter and I suddenly realized what is so awful about it - the effing darkness. The cold and snow and ice are exactly the same across the bay in Estonia, and the darkness, too, so I can really relate to that and I know what they're talking about. When you're in it, it seems... normal. When you've seen other options (Tareq in Syria and Leevi in Paris), you finally see what's really wrong. The darkness creeps into people and takes them over. Freezes their real emotions and makes people fake them (or just remain poker-faced the whole year round). That's why the Scandinavian films are full of really heavy drinking - it helps to forget the overall darkness, at least until the hangover. Btw, they're drinking Estonian beer there :D

The summer renovation projects are also "a thing" in this region since that's the only time you can actually keep the windows open to air out the smell of paint and varnish. Basically everyone is doing some renovation every summer.

The character of the father is also typical for this region's middle aged people. They can say that they are accepting, tolerate and OK with differences, but that's only the facade. Deep down they've still got "us vs them" mentality - and that was shown really well in this film. Somehow this father seems narcissistic to me, especially at the very end of the film when he realizes that he's offended both the refugee helper and his own son by declaring that the opinion of the villagers is more important than their own decisions and happiness - instead of apologizing he flips the matter and starts playing the victim ("You're blaming me for your mohter's death!"). I know it's just a film and these are just actors, but I really-really-really wish Leevi will stand up, go to the car, drive away and never look back.
Golu said…
These are very interesting perspectives from you which I really reapply appreciate. It does give me a thought how people who are more closer to either culture or geography can see a film in a totally different light from others who are barely familiar with the geographical landscape.

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