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4.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Raggen - det är jag det remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for vintage black-and-white comedies from the 30s, you might get a kick out of this. If you need pacing that moves faster than a slow walk, you will probably hate it. It is sweet, it is very crowded, and it feels like a postcard from a time that mostly doesn't exist anymore.
Maria, or "Raggen", is just one of nine sisters. Just saying that out loud makes my head spin. The family dynamic is basically organized chaos, and the movie spends a solid chunk of time just trying to manage the sheer number of people in every room.
The whole point of the movie is that she finally gets to go to Paris. It feels like such a huge deal for her, but the movie takes its sweet time getting there. The buildup is mostly domestic noise.
I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main plot. There is this one scene where a door opens and closes about four times too many, and you can tell someone behind the camera was frantically trying to clear the hallway. It’s funny in a way I don't think they intended.
It’s nowhere near as intense as Turkish Delight, obviously. It’s not trying to be. It’s just trying to be a nice little story about a girl getting out of the house for a bit.
There is a weird charm to how uncomplicated everything is here. Nobody is trying to save the world. They are just trying to get a girl to Paris. Sometimes that’s enough.
The acting is very much of its era. Lots of big expressions and deliberate movements. It’s not subtle, but it fits the vibe. It reminded me a bit of the simplicity in The Blue Carbuncle, just in a completely different setting.
Honestly? It’s a bit thin. You watch it, you smile, and then you probably forget half of it by dinner. But for a rainy afternoon? It works. It’s a polite movie. ☕️