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5.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Anderssonskans Kalle remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have seventy minutes to spare and want to see what made Swedish people laugh ninety years ago, this is a weirdly fun watch. 🇸🇪
But honestly, if you can't stand screechy audio or kids pulling dumb pranks, you should probably steer clear.
The movie is about Kalle, a kid who lives to make everyone else's life in his apartment building a total nightmare. His mom thinks he's a sweet angel, but the neighbors are pretty sure he was sent directly from hell.
The whole thing is basically just a string of pranks held together by some very loud shouting. My favorite is a simple trick with a hat and a piece of string. It's so stupidly basic, but the victim's reaction is absolute gold.
The local policeman has the funniest walk I have ever seen in a movie. He bounces up and down like he has invisible springs in his boots.
The two old ladies who live upstairs also deserve a shout-out. They don't have much to do except shake their fists and scream, but they do it with incredible passion.
In a way, the sheer speed of the chaos reminds me of Duck Soup, which came out around the same time. Though obviously, this Swedish version is much more focused on neighborhood gossip and laundry lines.
The editing is incredibly jerky. Sometimes the camera just lingers on a character's face for three seconds after they finish speaking, and it feels like the movie forgot to cut.
Also, why does everyone in 1930s Swedish films sound like they are trying to shout over a loud lawnmower?
There is this one scene where Kalle runs down a cobbled street and you can see real people in the background just stopping to stare at the camera crew. I love small, imperfect details like that in old movies.
It is definitely not a masterpiece, and some of the jokes feel older than the hills. But it has a sweet, dusty charm that is hard to dislike.
Just do not go in expecting some deep message. It is just a kid being a menace, and sometimes that is enough.