Review of Lukas Moodysson (Box Set)

Introduction

This is a review of Show Me Love, released as part of the Lukas Moodysson box set.

Like Lilya 4-Ever before it, I should have reviewed Show Me Love, Lukas Moodysson`s debut film, a while ago. After sitting through A Hole In My Heart I wasn`t really in the mood for any more Lukas Moodysson films. But it had to be done.

The plot doesn`t fill you with hope. An angst-ridden teenager is troubled over rumours that she is a lesbian (despite the fact that she probably is). No-one turns up to her birthday party, and she really feels like an outsider. But perhaps the girl that she is lusting after might be interested after all...or is it just another schoolgirl prank?

And no, it`s not that sort of film (just as well after Moodysson`s spite for the genre was shown by A Hole In My Heart).

Video

We are presented with a 1.85:1 non-anamorphic transfer, something that`s become almost unthinkable in this day and age. It`s very grainy (laregly due to the film stock used, but I`m sure it could have been cleaned a bit), it`s rather soft in places, and the colours don`t always look right. There is some thought that this is how the director might have wanted to look, but it probably should have looked better than it does on this DVD.

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, presented in Swedish. Dialogue is usually clear and crisp, but apart from that this is not a great track. The music (1980s pop and Euro-pop) sounds ok, but never rises above the merely average. A shame really as the other films in the set fare better.

Features

The only extra here is Talk, Moodysson`s first short film. It`s about a man who wants to talk to someone, and it seems he will try just about anything in order to get himself a conversation. An interesting addition to the DVD, but probably for Moodysson collectors only.

Conclusion

This film could have been a total mess, if it was done in a Hollywood style. But it`s distinctly cultured and European in its dealings with the subject of teenage angst. It avoids concentrating entirely on one character, and sheds its light on both of the main protagonists, as well as some of the supporting cast. It doesn`t have the grittiness of Lilya 4-Ever, but it`s not coated in that nasty Hollywood gloss either. It`s a good film about self-discovery, and it doesn`t have to resort to any quirky techniques or stereotypes to tell its story.

A good film then, on a DVD that could have been so much better. The picture could (and should) have been vastly improved, the sound could also have done with some work. The single extra is interesting, but more film-related items would be an improvement.

Probably the best film in the box set, and it gets the shabbiest DVD. Typical isn`t it?