Customer Reviews

Swedish Auto

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love movies that don't follow the Hollywood formula. Swedish Auto is a character driven Indie film that I found to be quirky and sweet. I loved it.

When you're telling a story about a central character who leads a mundane and unexciting existence, it requires a great deal of precision to ensure that the film doesn't suffer the same comparison. "Swedish Auto," a super low budget indie by Derek Sieg, is an interesting experiment with a number of high points, some head scratching low points, but (most deadly) a genuine lack of momentum for a third of its running time that might cause you to tune out before anything really happens. When I think about it, the film can be divided into three parts with the first being relative inaction, the second being a rather sweet romance, and the end being an uncertain chaos. I managed to like the subtle charms of the film, and I think Sieg has talent. But "Swedish Auto" is a well meaning movie that might have benefited from a more concise and clear viewpoint.

Lukas Haas plays a lonely and socially awkward car mechanic. Prowling the streets at night, he develops an obsession for two lovely ladies--a concert violinist and a troubled diner waitress (January Jones). Stalking his targets and peeping on them--yes, the hero is a stalker and a peeper--he begins to feel closer to the waitress after witnessing her disturbing home life. Haas is genuinely creepy in action and demeanor, yet his obsessiveness is played more as an inoffensive and innocuous character trait. Literally, I thought he was one rejection away from turning into a college campus sniper! He and Jones do start to interact, though, and this is where the film comes alive. Jones has a surprising ease and the gentle courtship is well written, believable, and pleasant (assuming you can get past the fact that Haas has stalked her which she forgives in a heartbeat). But not content with its success--the film then explores a workplace betrayal, Haas pursuing his other woman target, and a violent reckoning.

The final third is really a bit much and works to undermine the sensitive love story. In fact, in many ways, it subverts it in its entirety--proving that Haas still has plenty of unresolved issues to deal with before he can be someone else's knight in shining armor. Still, I liked the middle section of the film. Haas' feelings for and relationship with his boss is also nicely handled. I saw a lot of potential in "Swedish Auto" but never felt the whole picture gelled to a cohesive vision. Interesting, but largely unsuccessful, from a plot standpoint--this is a must-see for Haas fans and of particular interest to fans of Jones who may enjoy this low key and natural performance. KGHarris, 3/11.

This offbeat indie movie, shot on location in Charlottesville, Va., has its charms, including an engaging performance by a young January Jones (Mrs. Don Draper). The haunting and inventive musical score is a real high point, creating mystery and suspense, pulling the movie along and holding the viewer's interest.

If you like to watch paint dry you may enjoy this dull, dreary, amateurishly done production. Even though it came out in 2006 there are zero reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, apparently because it had little or no theatrical release exposure. After watching it I can fully understand why!