Bird's Eye View

Marcie MacLellan reviews: Three Miles North of Molkom

Three Miles North of Molkom directed by Corinna Villari-McFarlane and Robert Cannan

Three Miles North of Molkom, a documentary that follows fabulously relatable characters through the Shamanic rituals of a Swedish spiritual-enlightenment festival is a film that should be seen. It has been described as “a sheer delight” by The Mirror, “a hoot” by The Guardian and “hilarious” by The Times, but filmmakers Corinna Villari-McFarlane and Robert Cannan, do not want viewers to walk away with the notion that ‘this is dark’ or ‘this is hilarious.’ Unafraid of confusion, they simply hope that you will walk away sensing that something amazing has happened. And, cynic or believer, hippy or not, you will.  

Held in a remote corner of Sweden, Angsbacka is described by some as a profound and even mystical event. To others, it’s pure nonsense. But to Corinna and Rob, it’s something in between the two. Filmed exclusively at the 2007 No Mind Festival, Three Miles North of Molkom is the story about what happens to seven very different people who take seven very different journeys to get one step closer to the people they really are. “Our personality is all over the film, but we didn’t impose it,” said Corinna. “We wanted the story to tell itself and allow the viewer to get lost in the humanity.”

Perfect strangers were grouped together for this film, creating an ideal cast of characters ranging from total sceptic to devout believer. There is the Aussie cynic, a Swedish celebrity, an Irish father of two, a Finnish hippy grandmother, a Swedish Viking, a former goat herder, and a shy blonde beauty. Together, they take us on a two-week journey complete with firewalking, shamanism and tantric sex. The end goal is, ahem, spiritual enlightenment.

Scene from Three Miles

If you’re not a hippy, don’t worry. Neither are the filmmakers. And Nick, the unlikely lead in the film, accidentally stumbled on this festival in the hope of finding a Glastonbury-like experience. But, as reluctant as he is, he thankfully helps to close the gap between the doubters and believers amongst us. Which is a good thing, because often Nick says exactly what the rest of us are thinking: what a load of mumbo jumbo.

At times, I appreciated the open environment the festival was trying to create. At other times, I thought it was painfully manipulative. Particularly when a spiritual combat session leaves the eldest woman of the group flat on her back because she was not spiritually strong enough to fend off a body slam from a ‘guru’ twice her size. Throughout, I laughed with them (and at them), empathised, and rolled my eyes at their own self-absorption. But in the end, I must admit, the film makers achieved a simple brilliance; they made their characters relatable.

Three Miles North of Molkom opens in cinemas on Friday September 18th. For more information about the film please see our First Weekenders Club page. And remember - buying a ticket on the opening weekend makes a huge difference to the life of the film, so please show your support and go see it by Sunday!