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5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Atlantäventyret remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you probably only want to watch Atlantäventyret if you’re deep into the weeds of mid-century Swedish cinema or have a weirdly specific obsession with old maritime comedies. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it moves with the urgency of a sleeping cat. If you need something high-stakes, steer clear. If you just want to see people running around a boat deck in 1930s formal wear, pull up a chair.
The whole premise of the 'disguised as a boy' stowaway is ancient, but here it feels particularly thin. Tusse spends half the movie trying to act tough, which mostly just involves squinting and pulling her hat down low. It’s not exactly A Kiss for Cinderella levels of charm, but she tries.
The pacing is… well, it’s erratic. Sometimes the dialogue snaps along like a Chaz Chase routine, and other times it just hangs there, waiting for someone to remember their lines. I found myself looking at the background extras more than the leads. There’s one guy in a sailor hat who spends about five minutes just staring at a rope like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. ⚓
It doesn't have the grit of Hunted People, obviously. It’s not trying to be a drama. But it’s also not quite as sharp as the best stuff from this era. It feels like a movie made because they had a boat set ready to go and needed to put somebody on it.
Is it great? No. Is it the worst way to spend 80 minutes? Also no. It’s just… there. Like a piece of driftwood, floating through the Atlantic, waiting for the end credits to finally drop the curtain. 🌊
