Mubi Monday: Holiday (2018)

I had no clue what Holiday was about when I started watching it. When it ended, I wondered what others had made of it. It was something that impressed me, despite some scenes of unpleasantness that would make it an uncomfortable watch for many viewers. I rarely check out other reviews before writing my own, simply because I don't want to end up subconsciously repeating what others have already said, but it didn't take me long to see that my positive reaction to the film seemed to be in the minority. A lot of people rated this a harsh 1/10, with many decrying it as empty, criticising a pivotal scene of sexual violence, and generally warning other people to stay away from it.

I encourage people to check it out. It's far from empty, considering what it has to say about power dynamics in the central, highly dysfunctional, relationship and the way it sketches the character of a young woman who is only one step removed from many young women around the world, despite the network of criminals that she is connected to.

Victoria Carmen Sonne is that young woman, Sascha. She is given lots of expensive treats, and a good lifestyle, by a drug dealer named Michael (Lai Yde). But, in return, Sascha acts like Michael's girlfriend, although their relationship status seems like more of a business one than anything truly personal and connected. Things become strained when Sascha befriends two holidaymakers named Thomas (Thijs Römer) and Frederik (Michiel de Jong).

An astonishingly accomplished directorial feature debut for Isabella Eklöf, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Johanne Algren, Holiday is a film that uses sunshine, sea breezes, and some of the finer things in life to help make the more troubling aspects easier to accept and digest. Although opinions on movies are completely subjective, of course, I am bewildered by people who have watched this and come away from it thinking that it has nothing to say.

Although the supporting cast are all very good, and Yde deserves some praise for being a truly loathsome character who shows no remorse for any of his actions, it's Sonne who carries almost all of the scenes, whether she is being actively involved or passive (occasionally by choice, sometimes not). She loves to project an image to people she doesn't know, be it about her happiness or relationship status, or her bank balance. And that is all it is. At least, that is all it seems to be. Because Sonne has an air of happiness throughout most of the film, which is hard to accept when you see how precariously she hangs on to the better aspects of her life, and all by putting up with moments of abuse and dehumanisation. She's the kind of woman who would try on expensive dresses in stores to take selfies and post them on social media, claiming them as new purchases. Her life is a gossamer fabric, but arguably the other important point the film looks at is just how complicit she is in maintaining the whole facade, for the benefits that it provides. If that may sound like victim-blaming, it is not the intention. Anyone who watches the film will know what I am on about by the time it gets to the surprisingly tense, and unexpected, finale.

Obviously not a film for everyone, this is a challenging and thought-provoking piece of work. It's especially relevant nowadays, in a world that sees both the ongoing abuse of many women going unchecked and unpunished, and a world in which reality is warped by a lens of social media.

8/10

Holiday is currently available on MUBI.