“Paradise Is Burning”, the feature film from Swedish director Mika Gustafson, is a gripping exploration of family relationships and the complexities of growing up. The film offers a nuanced portrait of three sisters who are used to fending for themselves in their parents’ absence. The film captures their joy at their newfound freedom, their endless illegal capers and the uncertainty of their future as they stand on the cusp of something new. Director Mika Gustafson’s exquisite rendering of character and emotion, eliciting vivid performances from her young cast, is a revelation.
“Paradise Is Burning” has received international acclaim, premiering in the Orizzonti section at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where Gustafson was awarded Best Director. In October 2023, the film won the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at the 67th London Film Festival, where the jury said: “Not only was this a remarkable first feature, but a film that in its own right has such clarity of cinematic language and vision. It’s compelling universe was so complete and effortlessly executed. Nothing has been left untended to in this film, we were THERE, not like a fly on the wall or an intruder; it held us in its arms and it didn’t let us go.”
The film follows 16-year-old Laura (Bianca Delbravo), the eldest, who takes charge of the household during one of her mother’s frequent disappearances. Together with her middle sister Steffi (Dilvin Asaad) and 7-year-old Mira (Safira Mossberg), they form a trio who live a life of semi-anarchy, making the most of their premature freedom.
The sisters’ precarious situation is highlighted by their reliance on shoplifting and a black-marketeer neighbour, highlighting the impending expiry date of their self-sufficiency. A single misstep in their daily schemes to avoid adult attention brings social services to the door, demanding a face-to-face meeting.
Desperate to keep her family together, Laura devises a plan to find a substitute for her absent mother, which leads her to meet Hanna (Ida Engvoll). Hanna, who may be struggling with post-natal depression and a mid-life crisis, is fascinated by Laura’s free-spirited, rule-breaking lifestyle. The two form an unusual and intense bond, finding solace in their shared hobby of breaking into people’s homes.
Unaware of the impending visit from social services, and only aware of their eldest sister’s sudden absence, Steffi and Mira cope with abandonment by finding other allies. Steffi finds solace in aspiring karaoke champ Sasha (Mitja Siren), while Mira chases stray dogs and other lost children.
“Paradise Is Burning” masterfully captures a unique turning point in the lives of these young women. They make their own mistakes and learn hard lessons, revealing the rawness of their experiences. The film skilfully shows the raw vulnerability of young lives in difficult circumstances, while celebrating the power of sisterhood and the enduring hope for a better future.
