North Bend Film Festival Reviews: Swan Song and Ninjababy
By: Joseph Perry (Twitter - Uphill Both Ways Podcast)
German screen legend Udo Kier (Flesh for Frankenstein [1973], Shadow of the Vampire [2000], and this year’s The Blazing World) has the role of a lifetime in writer/director Todd Stephen’s feel-good drama Swan Song. Kier portrays Pat Pitsenbarger, once a flamboyant, outwardly gay hair dresser to the upper crust of Sandusky, Ohio society who now lives in a nursing home after a stroke. When Pat receives a high-paying offer to make up a deceased client (Linda Evans of Dynasty fame) — who he split with years earlier — for her funeral, he takes a journey on foot through the town only to see how much it has changed over the years, from his former professional haunts to the gay bar where he spent many of his younger nights, which just happens to be closing down.
Kier’s vivacious performance is enough reason to recommend Swan Song, but plenty of other reasons abound. Stephens has crafted a heartwarming film that transcends sexual identities and age groups, paying tribute to those who paved the way for today’s LGBTQ+ community with story elements highly relatable to people of all ages and gender identities. The costumes are fantastic and the performances are engaging. Viewers who love films about the power of the human spirit will find plenty to enjoy with Swan Song.
On the subject of heartwarming films, Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Norwegian comedy Ninjababy ultimately fits that description, as well. Cleverly brought to that point with crude humor, poignant dramedy, and animated sequences involving the titular as-yet-to-be-born character that help propel the story of Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp), who suddenly learns that she is unexpectedly pregnant and much further along than she initially thought — in the third trimester, to be exact. Along for the ride is a fun group of characters portrayed by a terrific ensemble cast including sweet martial arts instructor Mos (Nader Khademi) and a libertine rapscallion with a name that can’t be printed on this family-friendly website (Arthur Berning) — both of whom are the possible father of the child — and Rakel’s supportive best friend and roommate Ingrid (Tora Christine Dietrichson).
Ninjababy is a coming-of-age tale of an aspiring comic book artist and full-time partier who has been delaying the responsibilities of adulthood for as long as possible — and who has no desire in becoming a mother — but is suddenly thrust into having to face hard realities immediately. The characters feel real, as do the situations they find themselves in. Flikke turns in a fast-paced, offbeat comedic romp that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering well-earned laughs.
Swan Song and Ninjababy screened as part of North Bend Film Festival, which ran from July 15–18, 2021.
Joseph Perry is one of the hosts of When It Was Cool’s exclusive Uphill Both Ways podcast (whenitwascool.com/up-hill-both-ways-podcast/) and Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast (decadesofhorror.com/category/classicera/). He also writes for the film websites Diabolique Magazine (diaboliquemagazine.com), Gruesome Magazine (gruesomemagazine.com), The Scariest Things (scariesthings.com), Ghastly Grinning (ghastlygrinning.com), and Horror Fuel (horrorfuel.com), and film magazines Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope (videoscopemag.com) and Drive-In Asylum (etsy.com/shop/GroovyDoom).
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