KEILLERS PARK is a moody film noir from Sweden, a story by Pia Gradvall directed by Susanna Edwards that approaches the frequently told fears and joys of sexual coming out in a stylish and inventive way. It is a film that embellishes a fine script with creative camera work, sensitive use of flashbacks to peel the onion of the story's meaning, and employs some very fine actors who keep the drama electrified.
Peter (Mårten Klingberg) is a successful thirty-something son of a wealthy engineer who stands to inherit his family business and who is engaged to a beautiful artist Maria (Karen Bergquist). At a gathering Peter notices a handsome Algerian Nassim (Pjotr Giro) and senses feelings of sexual awareness he has not known. Nassim is a happy, popular, comfortably gay man who pursues the looks exchanged. When Maria leaves town for a concert Peter and Nassim meet in Keiller Park and begin an erotic love affair: both men genuinely fall in love and the expression of their first physical encounter is one of the most subtle yet wholly erotic on film.
Peter's involvement with Nassim affects his work, results in his father disowning him as he embraces the gay life, pushes Maria out of his life, and leaves him unemployed and alone except for Nassim. The story abruptly changes when the police breakdown Peter's door and arrest him for the murder of Nassim! Peter sits with the interrogators at the police station and in his shock that Nassim is dead, unfolds the whole story of their relationship. The secrets of Peter's life and the question as to Nassim's motivations and possible continued existence mold the resolution of the story in a manner that has explored all the highs and lows of new love and the consequences of entering a life that is intolerable to the outside world.
Both Pjotr Giro and Mårten Klingberg as the lovers offer highly nuanced performances and the supporting cast is very strong. Director Edwards has a sophisticated style not only with her actors, but also with her eye for atmosphere and pacing, using techniques of black and white for special moments and glowing warm lighting for the erotic scenes. She manages to allow us to see both sides of the 'coming out' consequences in a mature manner. KEILLERS PARK is a fine art house movie. In Swedish with English subtitles. Grady Harp
Peter (Mårten Klingberg) is a successful thirty-something son of a wealthy engineer who stands to inherit his family business and who is engaged to a beautiful artist Maria (Karen Bergquist). At a gathering Peter notices a handsome Algerian Nassim (Pjotr Giro) and senses feelings of sexual awareness he has not known. Nassim is a happy, popular, comfortably gay man who pursues the looks exchanged. When Maria leaves town for a concert Peter and Nassim meet in Keiller Park and begin an erotic love affair: both men genuinely fall in love and the expression of their first physical encounter is one of the most subtle yet wholly erotic on film.
Peter's involvement with Nassim affects his work, results in his father disowning him as he embraces the gay life, pushes Maria out of his life, and leaves him unemployed and alone except for Nassim. The story abruptly changes when the police breakdown Peter's door and arrest him for the murder of Nassim! Peter sits with the interrogators at the police station and in his shock that Nassim is dead, unfolds the whole story of their relationship. The secrets of Peter's life and the question as to Nassim's motivations and possible continued existence mold the resolution of the story in a manner that has explored all the highs and lows of new love and the consequences of entering a life that is intolerable to the outside world.
Both Pjotr Giro and Mårten Klingberg as the lovers offer highly nuanced performances and the supporting cast is very strong. Director Edwards has a sophisticated style not only with her actors, but also with her eye for atmosphere and pacing, using techniques of black and white for special moments and glowing warm lighting for the erotic scenes. She manages to allow us to see both sides of the 'coming out' consequences in a mature manner. KEILLERS PARK is a fine art house movie. In Swedish with English subtitles. Grady Harp