Review: Teens Survive on Wits in Dreamy Drama ‘Paradise Is Burning’

Swedish writer-director Mika Gustafson’s feature debut, Paradise is Burning, can be compared to a finely crafted, albeit slightly imperfect, garment from a young designer’s collection. While it has its rough spots, the film is an impressive, fresh, and well-cut piece of work. The movie is visibly influenced by notable films, from Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides and The Bling Ring to Andrea Arnold’s explorations of distressed youth in Fish Tank and American Honey. Also, the tender realism found in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s works like Nobody Knows resonate within the film. Yet, Paradise Is Burning maintains its unique essence, offering its own vibe that partially emanates from scenes of characters engaging in long, sunlit, Scandinavian summer evenings filled with moments of intoxication.

Gustafson, alongside co-writer Alexander Öhrstrand, crafts a narrative that, while light on details, unmistakably outlines the plight of three sisters abandoned by their mother, with the eldest, Laura, shouldering caretaker duties. Sixteen-year-old Laura, compellingly portrayed by Bianca Delbravo, works tirelessly to provide for her younger siblings, Mira and Steffi. Despite the challenges, including unwashed dishes and bedwetting incidents, Laura ensures Steffi is clean and gets to school. They rely on a meticulously planned shoplifting system for groceries and receive occasional help from a neighbor, Marta Oldenburg.

For amusement and extra food, the sisters, alongside a group of similarly aged girls, break into nearby homes to swim and raid kitchens. During one such escapade, Laura meets Hanna, a troubled adult played by Ida Engvoll, after nearly getting caught. Hanna, fascinated by Laura’s stories, begins to join the girls’ adventures, stealing from strangers and even reading their personal diaries. Laura dreams of persuading Hanna to pose as their mother for an imminent social worker visit, hoping to evade detection by authorities.

One can’t help but question the apparent negligence shown by the children’s services professionals in the film. While it’s debatable if such laxity is a standard practice in Sweden, it’s a stark reminder that even the most efficient systems can let vulnerable children slip through the cracks. The film operates in a dream-like realm, emphasizing rituals marking significant moments like a first period or losing a baby tooth, often involving symbolic elements such as red wine, representing blood.

Paradise Is Burning is screening in UK and Irish cinemas from 30 August.