Syndere i sommersol: Freud, Sunburns, and 1930s Drama

If you have about an hour and a half and want to see how people in the 1930s tried to be 'edgy,' then Syndere i sommersol is definitely worth a look today.

It is mostly for people who like character studies or those who enjoy seeing how much human nature hasn't actually changed in ninety years.

If you hate movies where people sit around talking about their feelings and Freud for long stretches, you will probably want to skip this one entirely.

The whole thing takes place on this really pretty island in Norway.

You have these eight friends who think they are the smartest people in the room because they’ve read a few psychology books.

They decide to have a 'sinful' summer where they reject all the old moral rules.

It’s funny because they talk about eroticism like they are discussing a grocery list or a science project.

They really want to believe they are beyond things like jealousy.

But then, of course, someone looks at someone else the wrong way, and the whole 'scientific' plan starts to fall apart.

The scenery is actually one of the best parts.

You can almost smell the salt water and the pine trees through the screen.

There is a lot of swimming and lounging around on rocks.

Sometimes the camera just lingers on the water for a bit too long, like the cinematographer forgot they were supposed to be filming a plot.

I noticed one scene where the wind is blowing so hard you can barely hear the actors, but they just kept the take anyway.

It makes it feel real, I guess.

Kirsten Heiberg is in this, and she has this intensity that makes everyone else look like they are just practicing their lines.

She doesn't even have to say much; she just stares, and you know exactly who is in trouble.

The men in the movie are mostly kind of annoying, to be honest.

They spend a lot of time puffing out their chests and trying to sound intellectual.

One guy has this mustache that looks like it was glued on five minutes before the camera started rolling.

It’s a bit distracting whenever he tries to be serious.

There is this one moment where they are all sitting at dinner and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a dull knife.

Nobody is eating, they are just glaring at each other over their soup.

It’s one of those scenes that feels like it goes on forever, but it actually works because you feel as uncomfortable as they do.

It reminded me a bit of the social awkwardness in The Cheat, even though the stories are totally different.

Speaking of things being different, this movie is a huge jump away from the more traditional Norwegian stuff like Prinsessen som ingen kunne målbinde.

Instead of folk tales, you get people arguing about their 'complexes.'

The dialogue is a bit clunky in spots, especially when they start quoting psychology theories.

It feels like the writer really wanted to make sure we knew they did their homework.

Wait, I think I missed the name of the guy who plays the doctor, but he has this very stiff way of walking that is kind of hilarious.

He walks like he’s trying not to break an egg he’s carrying in his pocket.

The movie gets much better in the second half when they finally stop talking and start actually acting on their impulses.

The 'paradise' they built starts to feel more like a cage.

There is a boat scene that is actually pretty tense.

The way the light hits the waves while they are arguing feels very moody.

It’s not a 'fun' movie, but it’s an interesting one.

I found myself wondering if people back then actually talked like this or if it was just how writers thought smart people talked.

Probably a bit of both.

Things I jotted down:

• The swimsuits are hilarious—very high-waisted and baggy.
• Someone keeps playing a gramophone in the background and it’s slightly out of tune.
• The way they smoke cigarettes makes it look like a full-time job.
• There’s a lot of staring at the horizon. A lot.
• One of the girls has a laugh that sounds like a bird being startled.

The ending is a bit abrupt, if I’m being honest.

It’s like they ran out of film or the sun went down and they just decided to call it a day.

But in a weird way, it fits the vibe of a summer that just sort of fizzles out.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got character.

I’d say give it a shot if you’re tired of modern stuff that explains every single emotion to you.

This movie trusts you to see that these people are mostly full of it. 🌊

I still can't get over that mustache though.