SHAME ON DRY LAND/ SYNDABOCKEN

Sweden, 2023, 91 minutes, Colour.

Joel Spiro, Christopher Wagelin, Julia Sporre, Jacqueline Ramel, Tommy Nilsson.

Directed by Axel Petersen.

This is a Swedish drama, writing and directing, cast. However, it was filmed in Malta, the beauty of the past, the island and ocean, industrial development, the reliance on gambling in casinos.

The story is enigmatic, the audience introduced to a wandering sailor, Dimman, Joel Spiro whose first words uttered are of being sorry, wanting forgiveness. And this develops throughout the film, making the sale’s journey something of an experience of atonement and reconciliation.

He is coming to see his school friend with whom he worked, but their company was fraudulent, Dimman lying and abandoning his friend who has been unable to get employment, relies on his fiancee, and they are now preparing a marriage celebration.

Dimman is also dependent on a Swedish woman on the island who arranges tourists to take trips on his boat. She alerts him to a police investigator who is acting suspiciously and Dimman follows him, sees the contacts he makes, experiences one of the contacts committing suicide, discovers a container which the investigator has filled with money and possessions.

The audience realising the investigator is a fraud, then realises that he is targeting Dimman’s friend, which leads to violent confrontations.

There is a happy ending with the reconciliation of friends, financial security for the friend, happy wedding – and Dimman sailing away, his active atonement achievement.,

1. The title, with reference to Dimman? The past? Frederick and his situation?
2. A Swedish film, Swedish characters, the colony in Malta, connected with gaming, affluent and hedonistic life? Filming in Malta, the island and the sea, towns, the past, industrial present? Casinos?
3. The offbeat musical score, often discordant and edgy?
4. The mystery of the opening, Dimman and his arrival, by boat, in Malta, dress, attitudes, declaring that he was sorry, repeating it?
5. The narrative as Dimman’s being sorry, some kind of atonement, rescuing Frederick, running risks, his future?
6. Frederick and Sarah, attitudes towards Dimman on arrival, gradual revelation of the past, schoolfriends, working together, the company and fraud, Dimman lying and leaving, abandoning Frederick, Frederick and application for jobs and refusals, reputation, unable to raise a loan from banks? Hostility towards Dimman? Sarah, working in gaming, accomplished, love for Frederick, preparations for the wedding, her knowing about Dimman?
7. Dimman, the wealthy woman, her gigolo, arranging the the sorting voyages, the clientele? Her boat? Suspicions about the police investigator? Dimman following him, observing him, at the casino with the woman, in his room and sexual behaviour, observing the container, the attack on Frederick, the money, the woman accomplice, the man on the boat and the suicide?
8. The wedding, Pierre and his arranging the wedding, the scene at the casino, threatening? Frederick and his drinking, confronting Dimman? The other Swedes recognising Dimman and knowing his past?
9. The wedding party, the celebration? Frederick and his desperation?
10. Following the investigator, Dimman and his bike, in the car, finding Frederick in the house? The pursuit of the investigator, firing the bow, his falling over the cliff, Dimman trying to get to the body, to get the passport and documents? Frederick in swimming difficulties? The later return, finding the body, the investigator still alive and the fight, getting the documents back? Going to the container, Dimman taking money for expenses, the rest for Frederick, to buy an apartment?
11. The confrontation with the woman, help from the gigolo, his Dimman the keys of the boat, her setting him up investigating the investigator? Targeting Frederick?
12. Happy ending, the wedding and the happy couple, peer singing? And Dimman sailing out to his future, his reparation mission accomplished?