As in Heaven

Directed by Tea Lindeburg, As in Heaven follows a 19th century teenager (Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl’s Lise) as she’s forced to reevaluate her staunchest beliefs after her mother falls gravely ill during childbirth. First-time filmmaker Lindeburg admittedly does a superb job of establishing the small, hard-working village in which the narrative’s events unfold, and there’s little doubt, as well, that the director has elicited impressive, thoroughly convincing work from her uniformly talented roster of performers – with, especially, Lindahl delivering a completely captivating turn that remains a highlight even through the picture’s overtly tedious stretches. And although the movie boasts a small handful of striking, captivating sequences, As in Heaven‘s predominantly meandering atmosphere paves the way for a midsection that isn’t quite as engrossing as Lindeburg has obviously intended (ie there’s a let’s-get-on-with-it-already quality to much of the second act). By the time the oddly inscrutable conclusion rolls around, As in Heaven has cemented its place as an internal, Bergmanesque examination of faith that doesn’t quite work yet bodes well for Lindeburg’s future behind the camera (ie if nothing else, the film looks great).

** out of ****