‘Unmoored’ Review – A Slow-Burn Drama About Victim Culture, Abuse And Dark Secrets [LFF 2023]

The media didn’t even stop reporting about the ‘Depp v. Heard’ case before claiming that Joe Jonas accused his now ex-wife Sophie Turner of being a bad mother. In between, there were the accusations against Russell Brand, leading to people either supporting those charges or blaming the victims. Victim culture and (domestic) abuse are still happening worldwide, and while many women dare to speak up, others might not, resulting in a life of pain, deceit, and blame.

The Swedish Maria is one of those women and her fictional story – which could have easily been true – now comes to the big screen thanks to director Caroline Ingvarsson. Her debut movie, Unmoored, is based on Håkan Nesser’s gripping novel The Living and the Dead in Winsford. While the feature is a slow burner – a bit too slow sometimes – the important messages and the engrossing Mirja Turestedt (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest) ensure that it succeeds in what it intends to do: lead to conversations.

Maria (Turestedt) seems to have it all. She has a successful TV career, a well-balanced life and a husband, Magnus (Thomas W. Gabrielsson). However, looking closely, you soon see cracks in her ‘perfect’ life. Her domineering husband is again accused of rape, resulting in an unwanted scandal. Maria also encounters prejudices towards women of a certain age. She confronts her husband with the shocking accusations. When he flatly denials those and even accuses the victim of lying, Maria realizes that this abusive marriage needs to come to a brutal end. Maria flees abroad but soon discovers that you can’t escape abuse, lies, deceit, and paranoia entirely.

Unmoored is as contemporary and vital as movies come these days. During our interview, Ingvarsson and Turestedt mentioned that both women and men recognize themselves in this feature. However, sadly not in the same way.

Women sympathize right from the get-go with the leading lady. This isn’t only because of the abuse she faces (we’ve all experienced that from afar or close by). It’s also because of the truthful and endearing performance by Turestedt. The emotions her character feels are never over-the-top or unconvincing. There aren’t any dramatic victim scenes in which there are outbursts of tears, shouting and drama. Instead, there are the more subdued but still powerful emotions. There’s a glimmer of hope that Maria can escape her relationship, but at the same time, there’s the pain, the anger and the anxiety caused by her traumatic past.

 

The trauma doesn’t only come from her husband but also from society. She’s a woman who has reached a certain age, which comes with prejudices such as not being good enough anymore and accepting that younger women are better. There’s a lot of abuse on multiple levels, and Turestedt’s portrayal works beautifully. She mentioned that she trained a lot for this movie because otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to portray Maria in the best way possible. When watching this movie, you’ll undoubtedly see Turestedt’s dedication and experience as both an actress and a woman.

Men on the other hand – and as mentioned in the interview, it’s not all men – take the abuser’s side. According to Magnus, the rape didn’t take place if the alleged rape victim doesn’t remember anything that happened. Whether or not men agree with that statement, it is wild to think they at least consider saying and doing the same thing. It mustn’t have been easy for Gabrielsson (A Royal Affair) to portray a character that symbolizes what many men stand for and many women fear. Nevertheless, he puts on a compelling – physically and verbally – believable performance.

The captivating acting and important messages are so loud and clear because the rest is kept on the down low. This results in a psychological thriller that’s too slow at times but always wonderfully looking, thanks to cinematographer Michal Dymek (EO). It might be a slow burner, but it can still grab your attention whenever needed. The returning presence of a bunker keeps you on your toes throughout the movie. You know something happened in there, but you don’t know what. Especially during the quieter scenes, your mind returns to that dark place, and you wonder what went on inside that bunker.

Unmoored just premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, and while there are no confirmed dates yet, it will head to other festivals. Touring the festival circuit is the perfect way to promote this film. It brings the significant story, genuinely believable performances, and the debate about abuse and victim culture to as many people as possible.

Unmoored had its World Premiere in the Thrill section at the BFI London Film Festival. It will have a repeat screening on the 10th of October. You can check for last-minute availability here.

Director: Caroline Ingvarsson

Writer: Michèle Marshall

Rated: NR

Runtime: 93m