- Have you ever fallen in love? And two at the same time? It’s especially difficult when you’re 14 years old, and when both of your lovers are best friends, and one of them is also a guy. You think that doesn't happen? Danish actor and playwright Mortin Kirkskov, I am sure, will not agree with you - this story he outlined in his autobiographical novel, which became the basis for the film. What is there to be really surprised about? What's so extraordinary? Especially since in fact this story is not about sex, not about same-sex love, and not even about friendship.
“Sports Walking” is a film more about growing up, about how to make decisions, becomes stronger than momentary impulses, how to learn to forgive and forget, remaining yourself and not rude to anyone. The main character Martin at once loses his mother – no one even knew that she was terribly ill until it happened. The father does not know how to communicate with children, does not know how to cook, seeks solace in the womb of a hairdresser. The brother is almost crazy - he can not part with his mother's things and is constantly in hysteria. The grandmother turned away from the family, believing that it was her father who drove her daughter into the grave.
The only sane person is Martin. Very soon he has an important church ritual in their social structure - confirmation. Now he himself takes care of what the family will eat, he frees the apartment from his mother's things, he deals with the issue of seating guests at his celebration.
It is not surprising that in all this chaos, the boy is banally looking for caresses, not just rough intimacy, but that there is someone who truly understands and appreciates him. We must not forget about puberty, when really sharp and really interesting - no matter how we try to erase it from our culture and puritanically turn away - questions of the body and bodily pleasures of intimacy.
The most sensitive and kind in the environment of Martin are Christina and Kim – he is lost between them, does not understand who more wants to kiss, he just wants to try. The love triangle eventually turns into a spiral and explodes with a real whirlwind - this becomes the driving force of the plot, but still not the main one, and after everything reaches the highest point, and after the break continues with an even life.
No happiness. It's like grief. Martin grew up taking what he could take from his childhood, but leaving what he had to leave behind. Ahead of him is a new path without old grievances and unrealized hopes. It is only a pity that most viewers – especially Russian ones – will never see any of this in the film, even if they see the picture.
Everyone will see only one scene of teenage bedtime in this movie. It will not matter that the moment is shown without vulgarity, in simple natural shades - without embellishment, but also without special accents, very ordinary and even simple. I don’t think that this scene can be called the central one in the film, but moralizers will certainly declare it to be so – and only for that will they brand the whole film.
Even the fact of this review, the fact that I saw this film, you can get dirty. In my defense, I will say that I just watched films with the participation of the star of the series “Government” and just a beautiful Danish actress – Sidse Babett Knudsen. I saw a fairly fresh film – production in 2014 – and director Nils Arden Oplev, who filmed the famous detective “Girl with a dragon tattoo”, which was later remade by the Americans. My love for Scandinavian cinema simply did not allow me to pass by.
The film is really made beautifully. There is no longer the usual slowness, long plans, no need to tune in to perception – we can say that Scandinavian cinema has had this as a childhood disease. At the same time, the Scandinavian directors managed to retain their special style.
In "Sports Walking" some incredibly charming and addictive atmosphere. There is no dynamic action in the frame, but the dramaturgy is at its height, the plot is alive and moves absolutely naturally, without semantic failures and empty pauses. Playing actors also does not cause complaints. That includes teenagers – I don’t know how long it took them to get into the role, but no one gives a sense of pattern or playfulness.
This is a brilliant film about growing up, becoming a person, difficulties at a young age and yes, of course, with a little love-erotic text. Whether we like it or not, it’s part of Scandinavian culture. The part they recognize and are willing to discuss and even masterfully display in their works of art.
In the past, by the way, in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, they often filmed something similar - somewhere in the 70s. When I first encountered this, I immediately decided that such topics could be touched only then and art and culture will never return to this, but now I realize that I was wrong.
Sports Walking is a rare movie in the modern world. At the same time, I really want to hope that it will not be an exception, and world art will return to the themes of growing up without embellishment.