Simon i Backabo: A strange trip to the Swedish countryside

If you're looking for a high-octane thriller, keep scrolling. Simon i Backabo is the kind of movie you put on when you want to feel like you've been transported to a Swedish farmhouse in the 1930s. It’s for folks who appreciate slow-burning, folksy charm. If you need pacing or a plot that makes sense every single second, you’re going to hate this.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Simon i Backabo (1934) through its definitive frames.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like a fever dream. Simon is just this guy, you know? He’s got his grandma and Greta the maid, and they’re just existing in this very specific, very quiet rhythm. Then the money shows up and everything gets weirdly frantic.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Simon i Backabo (1934) through its definitive frames.

The money problem

Watching Simon react to his inheritance is like watching a dog chase a car. He doesn't quite know what to do with it, and the people around him start acting like they’ve never seen a crown in their lives. The way the villagers turn into vultures is almost funny, but it’s played so straight that you start to wonder if the director was having a bad day.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Simon i Backabo (1934) through its definitive frames.

There's this one scene where Simon is trying to act wealthy, and it’s just painfully awkward. You can see the actor struggling to keep a straight face. I actually laughed out loud, even though I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be a comedy moment.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Simon i Backabo (1934) through its definitive frames.

• The lighting in the kitchen scenes is bizarrely moody.
• Greta’s apron changes length between shots. Nobody noticed?
• The grandmother’s cat is the only one who seems to know what's going on.

It’s not as polished as Skyscraper Souls, that’s for sure. It lacks that big-city confidence. But there’s something about the way the camera lingers on the haystacks that feels weirdly honest.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Simon i Backabo (1934) through its definitive frames.

I found myself thinking about The Water Gipsies while watching this. They share this same obsession with the daily grind, even if the settings are worlds apart. But where that film feels like it’s going somewhere, Simon i Backabo feels like it’s just wandering through the woods until it gets tired.

Did I mention the dialogue? It’s very fast. Sometimes I felt like I was missing half the movie because I couldn't keep up with the banter. Or maybe it’s just not that important. I kind of stopped listening after twenty minutes and just watched the faces. Everyone looks like they’re trying to remember where they left their keys. 🐈

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it worth two hours of your time? Maybe if you’re bored on a rainy Tuesday. It’s not great, but it’s definitely something. Just don't go in expecting a life-changing experience.