'Instead of Abracadabra' will make You want to "Chimay!" all over the Place

posted by Jett Loe

(Jett is a Juror at this year’s Nashville Film Festival, (April 16th-23rd); he’ll be updating ‘The Film Talk’ throughout the Fest with thoughts on films seen both in and out of competition – as always Spoilers Ahoy)

Instead of Abracadabra / Written and Directed by Patrik Eklund / Starring Simon J. Berger

Chimay!

There, it’s done – I’ve found my mantra – the word that will restore my focus when I’m befuddled – bring me up when ever I’m down.

What’s that you say?  The hard-hearted cynic of ‘The Film Talk’ who vents spleen at Hollywood product like ‘Knowing’ whenever he gets the chance has been revitalised by a short Swedish comedic portrait of a failed magician who lives with his parents and whose magic word ‘Chimay’ is mistaken for ‘Shemale’?

Yes.  Yes, of course I have.

Without shame I say ‘Instead of Abracadabra’, (original title ‘Istället för abrakadabra’ – thankfully this isn’t the show and I don’t have to say that out loud), is the feel good hit of the…well, it was the feel good hit of this Easter Sunday.

That may not sound like a ringing endorsement.  But let me tell you something – I see a lot of films.

A. Lot. Of. Films.

I have stacks of screeners surrounding me as a write this – little known Abyssinian dramas tumble down from piles onto unsolicited mumblecore weepies shot entirely on Cell Phones shooting through Pixelvision viewfinders.

Not all of these films are gold.

So when a pic feels fresh, confident – is full of the razamatazz – full of the hoo-haa – full of Chimay! then I stir from the seemingly narcostised slumber that watching one bad student feature after another instills, (note to “Joe” who’s mortgaged his girlfriend’s house to pay for a ‘shot on 65mm’ dream picture about one crazy last summer before adulthood:  you can do better).

The acting is sharp, the camerawork witty – you will feel fear – you will laugh – you’ll worry about the characters – in short:  it’s a well made film.

If you’re at this year’s Nashville Film Fest try to make it to ‘Instead of Abracadabra’, (or go to the ticket booth and ask for ‘Istället för abrakadabra’ – go on, I dare you), you’ll leave the cinema shouting ‘Chimay!’*

- – -

‘Istället för abrakadabra’ / ‘Instead of Abracadabra’ screens as part of the ‘Fun With Our Shorts On’ program – Friday, April 17 at 06:30 PM and Thursday April 23 at 01:00 PM.

- – -

* I realise this sort of film critcism sounds like a puff piece – I think unconsciously I’m trying to get my name on a poster – you know, the kind of thing you’d see on ‘Fast and Furious’: “An Action Packed, Adrenaline-Fueled Thrill Ride!”  The fact that I’m blurbing for a little known Swedish Magician Pic, (is that a genre?), speaks volumes.  Chimay.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 12th, 2009 at 8:47 pm. It is filed under Blog, Comedies, Drama, Film Festivals, Jett Loe, Jett Loe Reviews, Nash Film Fest, Nashville, Reviews, Short Film. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.