The Last Paradise on Earth (2025)
Faroese films is a rare thing in itself, which I think makes this worthwhile in itself. From a distance it is quite a small story about a factory in a fishing village that is on the verge of shutting down, but of course it is a big thing for those it affects. While the plot is fairly minimal, it does convey a general sense of how globalisation is threatening the quiet simple life. Kári here may not have big ambitions or a wish to “see the world”, but the dream of getting a stable job in town and just living a simple life isn’t really a possibility anymore. But even that dream isn’t without its issues, as I think we indirectly see how the father isn’t exactly happy at his age, implied that he has lived and worked as a fisherman in the village most of his life.
The film is good at portraying a sense of aimlessness and resignation within Kári, but it also has the usual small arthouse trappings of relying too much on atmospheric cinematography that doesn’t really go anywhere or open up the narrative to anything larger.
Rating: 3.5