Another hyped-up, critically acclaimed movie I waited 20 years to watch... and I'm quite stunned at how bad I actually find it! An almost abysmal attempt at theatrical farce about a Swedish staging of Mozart's opera "Don Juan" with a new, subversive director that puts more than one spin on its cast and orchestra ensemble.
Opens OK in its chaotic style but snowballs into a sort of non-stop charade of worse and worse, pointless theater sports ad-libs, with loud, seemingly impromptu dialog and opera song outbursts that are increasingly tiresome. Clearly a Fellini-wannabe in its anarchistic spirit and setting, but seriously, any of the scenes between the 15th and 100th minute could be randomly swapped around without making any difference to the story whatsoever! One also might have to be an opera aficionado to appreciate it. I, myself, can't stand opera, which of course makes this even more unendurable.
A few random chuckles and Glaser offers a good performance, but this is among the worst, so-called classic Swedish movies I've ever seen. I honestly, honestly can't see why it's so hailed. Artsy, you say? Fartsy, say I!
Tip: Director Osten and her steady team HAVE made a good movie: "Skyddsängeln". Catch that one instead!
2 out of 10 from Ozjeppe
