A Sony Pictures Sweden release (in Sweden) of a Nordisk Film, Filmpool Nord, Kanal 5 production. (International sales: Nordisk, Valby, Denmark.) Produced by Hans Peter Lundh. Co-producers, Per-Erik Svensson, Bo Thornwall. Executive producer, Kim Magnusson. Directed by Rafael Edholm. Screenplay, Edholm, Bjorn Olovsson.
With: Andreas Wilson, Sara Sommerfeld, Hassan Brijany, Gyorgi Staykov, Goran Forsmark, Jarmo Makinen, Hannu Kiviaho, Peter Franzen, Joakim Andersson, Conny Ceder, Laura Malmivaara, Rogelio Duran, Per Christian Ellefsen, Heyes Jemide, Sylvia Rauan.
(Swedish, Russian, Finnish, Norwegian, English dialogue)
A "Fargo"-influenced comedy set in the frozen wilds of northern Sweden, "Baba's Cars" is an enjoyable romp involving Russian drug runners, small-time shysters, and a lot of jokes best appreciated by Scandi auds. A genuine crowd-pleaser from helmer Rafael Edholm, whose recent "Completely Mad" repped a critical success, pic's good-natured hijinks and game cast keep chuckles flowing, though shoot-up finale could have been milked for more laughs. Sure to be a local hit after late March opening, heavy rotation of Scandi stereotypes won't tickle offshore funny bones in quite the same way.
Dumb blonde Anso (Sara Sommerfeld) wants b.f. Jojo (Andreas Wilson) to do more in life than ice fishing, so long as it's not working for her estranged dad, used car salesman and general fence Baba (Hassan Brijany). But when Jojo spends their savings on a transmission for his beat-up Caddy, Anso blows her top and Jojo secretly agrees to act as Baba's errand boy so he can recoup the money.
His first job is to pick up a car from Eleena (Laura Malmivaara), whose impatience to sell on the cheap should have been a tip-off that something was fishy. Neither Baba nor Jojo realizes the car really belongs to Eleena's b.f. Ivan (Gyorgi Staykov), a Russian drug lord with whom she's had a nasty spat. Unbeknownst to Eleena, Ivan stashed a fortune in dollars under the seat, money that belongs to the boss of all bosses.
When Ivan realizes the car is missing, he sends out his three bumbling henchmen, the Finnish Kukka brothers (Jarmo Makinen, Hannu Kiviaho, and Peter Franzen) to get it back at all costs. But Baba's already sold it to a very chatty Norwegian (Per Christian Ellefsen), who's on his way across the border.
Amusing caper material is exploited to its fullest by Edholm's light touch, which revels in playing with regional quirks, whether it's accents, names or national characteristics. The influence of the Coen brothers is never far in the banter between the hit men Kukka brothers, alternately playful and menacing but always full of ripe observations.
The cast obviously enjoyed themselves to the full: Both Wilson ("Evil") and Sommerfeld ("Wings of Glass") are better known outside Sweden for their dramatic perfs, but here show they're more than capable of holding their own in lighter fare. If Sommerfeld's wide-eyed whininess and Farrah Fawcett hair seem a tad overdone in the early scenes, she comes into her own at pic's end.
Tech credits are high throughout, with d.p. Geir Hartly Andreassen's expansive lensing of the snowy vistas nicely setting the tone of quirky shenanigans in the frozen middle of nowhere. Music tries a little too hard to emphasize hip nature of the material, though it's never less than enjoyable.
Camera (color, widescreen), Geir Hartly Andreassen; editor, Fredrik Alneng; music, Hannu Kiviaho; production designers, Eva Noren, Henrik Andersson; costume designer, Kicki Ilander; sound (Dolby DTS), Magnus Bergentz; line producer, Daniella Prah. Reviewed at Tromso Film Festival (Closing Night), Jan. 20, 2006. Running time: 84 MIN.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com
Date in print: Mon., Mar. 20, 2006