SOMETHING MUST BREAK by Ester Martin Bergsmark

A modern, hip, fresh and yet simoultaneously timeless film about sexuality and romance. That is the overall feeling of Ester Martin Bergsmark's Something Must Break

 

An androgynous boy named Sebastian, who much prefers to be called Ellie, falls for a straight boy named Andreas. This seemingly hopeless infatuation takes a surprising turn after the two get to know each other, and a spark almost instantly and uncontrollably ignites their rebellious and yet tender love affair.

 

Something Must Break marks a significant entrance into the international scene by filmmaker Ester Martin Bergsmark. Here, the filmmaker brings his story of 21st century romance to the screen with great skill in ability. This is shown by a great synergy of daring stylistic choices and a narrative that simoultaneously recalls the more traditionalist structures of the romance movie format whilst treading on dangerous and more daring waters.

The cinematography is the most instantly noticeable element on a visual sense, as it is just as good at caressing its pivotal characters in the sweetest of scenes as it is relentless in revealing the decadent when Bergsmark examins the more racy and gritty sides of the story. This, in turn, makes for a great examination of sex, as it is examined wholly in all the forms in which it is portrayed in Something Must Break - whether explicitly graphic or as the ultimate expression of love and connection between two human beings.

 

This alternation of bark and bite, fearlessly uproarious and eccentric at times, with a certain sweetness, softness and sensibility, is indeed a  great driving point of the film. The characters feel very real, and the chemistry between the two leading actors in their roles enhances the energy of the overall viewing experience - this was an incredibly important point to achieve, as it is easy to see that the film could have failed in its attempt without such a level of connection between them. 

 

Frustratingly, Something Must Break does occasionally show tendencies at running in circles and sometimes come to a standstill. It is also true, however, that said resulting frustration is supposed to symbolise and make us experience the same frustration that the characters feel in their difficult and complex infatuation, given that for Andreas it also marks an awakening to homosexuality. Therefore, it is partially forgiveable, at least on a level of psychological genuineness.

 

Someting Must Break by Ester Martin Bergsmark is out in UK cinemas from the 3rd of April 2015.