"...inherently funny...a barrage of light laughs and silly word play."
In this slow-burning comedy mockumentary we follow the chaos and hijinks of a competitive vegetable growing community as scandal tears through allotments in Shepton Mallet. Up and coming grower, Caroline (played by Jo Hartley), finds her chances dashed when her prize marrows are stolen from her greenhouse, leading her on a quest for answers and discovering more than she bargained for.
This film is inherently funny, providing a barrage of light laughs and silly word play - it is good fun to see. Jo Hartley is fabulous as Caroline, commanding her with the madness and humour she deserves. Supported by friends, Richard Lumsden as Paul, an over zealous conspiracy theorist, and Celyn Jones as Willy, Caroline’s needy neighbour and partner in crime; the three bounce off each other as daft, semi-functional sleuths. Supported by Aisling Bea and Ray Fearon as blasé private investigators who run swinging parties on the side, ‘Swede Caroline’ is supremely funny to its core.
It is highly reminiscent of BBC 3’s ‘This Country’ in both its mockumentary interview style and pastoral narrative. It is surely a celebration of “the weird and wonderful world of the English countryside” says Co-producer Boris Thompson-Roylance, who, along with his twin brother and co-producer, Jack, explore the oddities and drama of quintessential British traditions. Having grown up in Somerset, ‘Swede Caroline’ is a homage to their Glastonbury roots, capturing the eccentricities of semi-rural living in a gracious and compassionate manner. Boris and Jack Thompson-Roylance founded London based independent production company ‘Deadbeat Studios’, specialising in international feature films and TV, ‘Swede Caroline’ seems to be their first mockumentary and true comedy film, but hopefully not their last.
In places the film slows and struggles to keep its momentum going, relying heavily on the interview segments to propel the plot forward. I would have liked to have seen the subplot fleshed out and explored on a deeper level. It could easily be a 6 part series, which may have helped maintain the spark and allowed for more time dedicated to the subplot. Ultimately, ‘Swede Caroline’ is a fun and amusing film which is worth seeing for a good laugh.
This review was made possible by the brilliant individuals at Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks, whose mission is to provide high quality film and live events to rural communities in Herefordshire. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. https://artsalive.co.uk/
About the reviewer
Kirsty Meers
Kirsty Meers is a young creative who loves film, fashion, music and literature. Her passion lies in independent film, and when she’s not in the cinema you can find her playing sudoku or with her head in a book.
