The white people – Göteborgs-Posten

The drama thriller

The white people

Director: Lisa Aschan

With: Vera Vitali, Pernilla August, Isaka Sawadogo, Aliette Opheim, Emil Almén and Ville Virtanen

Sweden, 2015 (85 mins)

The Swedish documentary film repository (2015) is recorded on the Migration Board’s so-called repository (in reality a prison) in Flen. In the film, we follow the refugees who have been detainees (bureaucrat language remained incarcerated) for several months awaiting deportation. Alternatively suddenly be told that you are allowed to remain in Sweden. Pack up your belongings and stick!

Lisa Aschan, who got a break from film critics and at festivals with his debut feature film She Monkeys (primarily a power struggle between two girls) in 2011, directed ruthless criticism of the Swedish Migration Board and the Swedish refugee policy in his new movie The white people .

The film begins with the text plate Sweden in 2015. This is the present, in a Sweden where the government this week introduced tougher rules for refugees, not an Orwellian dystopia.

A lone car in a winter landscape. The young woman Alex (Vera Vitali) is brought to an underground prison, which is not called for prison without a locked unit. After security checks and body searches awarded to Alex a dark cell, waiting to be deported. Alex has decided to try to escape as quickly as possible, in order to reunite with his little daughter. To return to their ancient homeland is unthinkable.

Guard Chief Viktoria (Pernilla August) controls the prison with an iron fist. For the colleagues she notes during a coffee party that under no circumstances should be involved in the prisoners’ fates. We have a job to do, nothing else.

In addition to being socially critical are the white people a drama thriller with elements of suggestive horror. In the film, razor sharp photographed by Linda Wassberg, are dark, ominous corridors scenes that got me thinking about both Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) and Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979).

A bit into the film shows that Pernilla August’s character is more complex than we think. Aschan use the grip to allow all prisoners to be white. To clarify the inhumane detention for ordinary Swedes? Frankly, I do not know. Another film element to consider is the mysterious FK (Ville Virtanen), who are reluctant to show themselves. He is the institution most supreme chief, and possibly a government representative?

Alex’s escape plans, the white people is an action driving forward. At the end Aschan skillfully weaves together the film the first scenes of the past. The film’s final twist is intelligent and quite consistent.

After the films Blind and My so-called father , both from 2014, stands Vera Vitali as one of Sweden’s strongest brilliant actresses. Vitali holds the highest level even the white people. Pernilla August is always good. Guard Chief Viktoria is a role as August seems to like to play.

Do not miss the way, not the end credits, or rather, do not miss the ironic music installation during the credits.