Shame on Dry Land (2023) User Reviews

A passable action/mystery movie

[plupu66 · 6/10 · 14 September 2023]

I saw this film at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

At TIFF, I usually look for Scandinavian films (or films by Scandinavian directors) and I am rarely disappointed. (I include Iceland in Scandinavia, here). Films for Nordic countries have a unique feel - quite original, their own humour, their own sensibility. They are often thoughtfully put together.

Well, this film felt more like a typical American action movie - not too bad, but nothing special. It had its fist fights, some sex (that I found more disgusting than arousing), and lots of money floating around and - of course - the Hollywood ending.

Don't get me wrong, I would have probably watched that on Netflix with some popcorn by my side, but, hey, that was hardly film festival material.

"You are who you are. Just accept it and make the most of it."

[Blue-Grotto · 8/10 · 30 November 2023]

Dimman is a conman who is adrift in more ways than one. Living on a boat, often inebriated, cheating others for a living, looking inside himself to ponder his wicked ways, and even now showing up to a former friend's wedding without an invitation, Dimman is thus without a home, mind, heart, soul, friend, and wedding invitation. Remarkably, Dimman's feckless frenemy Fredrik is in worse shape. "I can't hold onto anything," says Fredrik who, on the eve of his marriage, gambles away all the wedding funds. Dimman and Fredrik manage to join in a shaky alliance full of shifting allegiances, competing demands, boats, and booze, to try to patch things up before the nuptials begin.

Shame on Dry Land is a raw and thrilling bromance full of colorful characters and surprising twists. While the plot is sometimes confusing and unrealistic, the film overall is an intriguing and delightful cruise. The director and major actors were present for this world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. They mainly attempted to make sense in English of the Swedish film title "Syndabocken." In Swedish it means "a shame is so big it floods the land." The English title may make more sense in this respect.

Masterful award juggernaut

[martinpersson97 · 10/10 · 18 January 2024]

This film became an immense winner at the Guldbagge awards, the Swedish Oscars.

And for perfectly good reasons, indeed - the actors all do an incredible job, all of them very deserving of their praise and awards, and conveying the splendid script superbly. Very suspenseful, nail biting and incredibly well written, expertly paced.

The cinematography, cutting and editing is very unique, and overall very beautifully put together. Expertly shot, and featuring some truly outstanding imagery.

Overall, definitely a masterful achievement, and ever award deserving drama for the ages - it is indeed easy to see why this film becamse such a popular contender at the Guldbagge! Highly recommended for any lover of film, and yet another testament to the provice of Swedish filmmaking.