This peculiar specimen of Swedish noir won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes this year, and scored a 97 among top critics on Rotten Tomatoes, that describes it as “Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance,” meaning they don’t know what to make of it. It’s a borderline midnight movie, but I’m guessing stout hearted Sunday regulars can take it during the day. Lopsided customs inspector Tina is blessed with a sense of smell so acute she can detect anyone smuggling undeclared substances. While working a sex crimes case she meets her match in Vore, a similarly deformed creature who bonds with her, leading to surprising results. — Peter Biskind
“This is a movie that aims to startle in overt and subtextual ways; the less known before viewing, the better.” — New York Times
“An exciting, intelligent mix of romance, Nordic noir, social realism, and supernatural horror that defies and subverts genre conventions.” — Alissa Simon, Variety
“Border is not just unlikely to resemble any of its subtitled competition but also anything else you’ll see this year.” — Robert Abele, L.A. Times
directed by
Ali Abbasi
Ali Abbasi
written by
John Ajvide Lindqvist (based on the short story "Gräns"), Ali Abbasi (screenplay)
John Ajvide Lindqvist (based on the short story "Gräns"), Ali Abbasi (screenplay)
with
Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson, Ann Petrén
Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson, Ann Petrén
language
Swedish (with English subtitles)
Swedish (with English subtitles)
country
Sweden, Denmark
Sweden, Denmark
production company
Meta Film Stockholm Spark Film & TV, Kärnfilm Film i Väst, and others
Meta Film Stockholm Spark Film & TV, Kärnfilm Film i Väst, and others