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4.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Bomans pojke remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for vintage Swedish cinema, you’ll probably find something to chew on here. It’s got that specific, slightly grainy atmosphere of the 1930s that feels like it smells like old wool and cheap coffee.
If you need fast pacing or modern camera tricks, skip it. You’ll be bored to tears within ten minutes.
The whole thing kicks off with Gösta, who is just incredibly unlucky. Unemployment is a heavy anchor, and watching him try to navigate that is a bit of a slog, but it feels real.
He falls in with a smuggling crew, which sounds like the start of a thriller, but it’s mostly just guys hanging around looking worried in dimly lit rooms. It’s not exactly The Yacht Party in terms of glitz, that's for sure.
Thor Modéen is in this, and honestly, the man just has a way of occupying a frame. He doesn't even have to do much. He just stands there looking like he’s got a secret, or maybe he just forgot to eat lunch. It’s a nice bit of grounding.
There’s a scene where they’re moving goods in the dark, and the shadows are so deep you can barely see who is talking. It feels like a mistake, but maybe it’s just because the film is old as dirt. Either way, it adds this weird tension where you're squinting at the screen just to make sure you didn't miss a punch.
It’s not as polished as Two Arabian Knights, but it’s got a different kind of heartbeat. It’s a bit messy, and the plot holes are big enough to drive a truck through.
But sometimes, you just want to watch a guy struggle with his choices in a world that doesn't care about him. It’s simple. It’s bleak. It’s fine.
Don't look for a grand moral lesson here. It’s just people being people, mostly making bad decisions. 🚬