Homecoming

Directed by Suvi West and Anssi Kömi, Homecoming follows West as she attempts to return various Sámi artifacts, which have been stored in various museums, to their rightful owners. It’s well-intentioned subject matter that’s predominantly employed to uninvolving effect by West and Kömi, as the filmmakers deliver a sluggish documentary that contains little in the way of an entry point for casual viewers – with the arms-length atmosphere compounded by West and Kömi’s ongoing emphasis on endless instances of folks describing certain artifacts and their origins. And while Anssi Kömi’s cinematography is admittedly quite beautiful and cinematic, Homecoming‘s paucity of genuinely compelling attributes and elements (ie it’s all just so relentlessly dry) ensures that the movie feels much, much longer than its 76 minute running time – with the lackluster vibe ensuring that the picture’s closing stretch is hardly able to pack the emotional punch for which West and Kömi are obviously striving.

** out of ****