Three miles north of sanity

By Marcie MacLellan

This film was described as “a sheer delight” by The Mirror, “a hoot” by The Guardian and “hilarious” by The Times. I’ve got to admit, none of these words came to mind after sitting through Three Miles North of Molkom. Uncomfortable, confusing, or overly sentimental seems more apt. But regardless of how you’d describe the film, I do know this; it is a film that should be seen.

In my opinion, one of the strongest emotions a film can churn up is confusion. Corinna Villari-McFarlane and Robert Cannan clearly made this one of their goals. In their words, they did not want viewers to walk away with the notion that ‘this is dark’ or ‘this is hilarious.’ They just want you to walk away sensing that something amazing has happened.

Held in a remote corner of Sweden, Angsbacka is described by some as a profound and even mystical event. To others, it’s pure nonsense. But to the Corinna and Rob, it’s something in between the two. Filmed exclusively at the 2007 No Mind Festival, Three Miles North of Molkom is the story about what happens to seven very different people who take seven very different journeys to get one step closer to the people they really are.

Perfect strangers were grouped together for this film, creating an ideal cast of characters ranging from complete sceptic to complete believer. There is the Aussie cynic, a Swedish celebrity, an Irish father of two, a Finnish hippie grandmother, a Swedish Viking, a former goat herder, and a shy blonde beauty. Combined, they take us on a two-week journey complete with workshops such as firewalking, shamanism and tantric sex (to name but a few.) The end goal is, ahem, spiritual enlightenment.

If you’re not a hippy, don’t worry. Neither are the film makers. And Nick, the unlikely lead in the film, most certainly is not. In fact, the poor fellow stumbled on this festival in hopes of finding a Glastonbury-like experience. But as reluctant as he is, he thankfully helps to close the gap between the doubters and believers among us. Which is a good thing, because often Nick says exactly what many people must be thinking – what a load of mumbo jumbo.

At times, I appreciated the open environment the festival was trying to create. At other times, I thought it was painfully manipulative. Particularly when a spiritual combat session leaves the eldest woman of the group flat on her back because she was not spiritually strong enough to fend off a body slam from a ‘guru’ twice her size. Throughout, I laughed with them (and at them), sympathised with them, and rolled my eyes at their own self-absorption. But in the end, I must admit, the film makers achieved a simple brilliance; they made their characters relatable.

“Our personality is all over the film, but we didn’t impose it,” said Corinna, summing up the outcome of the film perfectly. “We wanted the story to tell itself and allow the viewer to get lost in the humanity.”

And like it or not, cynic or believer, you will.