Koko-di Koko-da

Koko-di Koko-da is a 2019 internationally co-produced surrealist[1] dark fantasy psychological horror film[2] directed by Johannes Nyholm. The film tells the story of a struggling couple on a camping trip in the woods to save their marriage, after the tragic death of their daughter on her eighth birthday during a vacation in Denmark three years prior, who find themselves in a time loop of agonizing torture, humiliating slapstick, and surreal dreams at the hands of a band of antagonistic nursery rhyme characters depicted on a music box, which they had purchased for their daughter as a birthday gift prior to her death and birthday. The two have to find a way to heal their broken marriage, overcome their grief, and escape the macabre time loop of torture and murder.

Koko-di Koko-da
Film poster
Directed byJohannes Nyholm
Produced byJohannes Nyholm
Written byJohannes Nyholm
StarringLeif Edlund
Music byOlof Cornéer
Simon Ohlsson
CinematographyTobias Höiem-Flyckt
Johan Lundborg
Edited byJohannes Nyholm
Production
company
Beofilm
Film i Väst
Distributed bySmorgasbord Picture House
Dark Star Pictures
Release date
  • 25 January 2019 (2019-01-25) (Sundance)
Running time
89 minutes
CountrySweden
Denmark
LanguageSwedish
Danish
Johannes Nyholm (right) presenting 'Koko-di Koko-da' at Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2019.

Plot

Happily married Swedish couple Tobias and Elin dote on their only daughter, Maja. However, during their vacation to Skagen, Denmark for Maja’s eighth birthday, tragedy strikes as Elin is sent to the hospital due to an allergic reaction to shellfish from her mussel pizza at lunch. This is followed by the sudden death of Maja in her sleep to amnesic shellfish poisoning on her birthday. Stricken with grief at the loss of their beloved daughter at a young age, Tobias and Elin’s marriage begins to deteriorate as a result, and ends up on the verge of divorce.

Three years later in Sweden, Tobias and Elin go on a camping trip for vacation, not only to celebrate the third anniversary of Maja’s passing but also as an effort to rekindle their marriage. Their trip in the woods suddenly transforms into a dark, twisted nightmare as the couple are stalked and preyed upon by a trio of antagonistic nursery rhyme characters and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, led by a sadistic elderly gentleman in a boater hat and white suit. These figures are connected to a music box given to their late daughter as a birthday present, which has been left unwrapped since the day of her death.

Stuck in a time loop of savage torture, twisted illusions, and humiliating slapstick, Tobias and Elin are forced to find a way to not only repair their broken marriage, but also to overcome their inner demons of guilt and grief in order to escape the murderous troupe and break the time loop.

While stuck in the time loop, a shadow play is performed centering on a family of rabbits who lost their only child and are forced to overcome their grief, which symbolizes the tragedy three years prior and the predicament that Tobias and Elin are currently facing.

Cast
  • Leif Edlund as Tobias
  • Ylva Gallon as Elin
  • Katarina Jakobson as Maja
  • Peter Belli as Mog
  • Morad Baloo Khatchadorian as Sampo
  • Brandy Litmanen as Cherry

Release

Koko-di Koko-da was screened in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.[3]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Koko-di Koko-da holds an approval rating of 83%, based on 58 reviews, and an average rating of 6.30/10. It's consensus reads, "Using an effectively creepy setting and a beguilingly evasive approach, Koko-Di Koko-Da takes a chilling look at the long tail of grief."[4]

References
  1. "Fantastic Fest 2019 Interview: Writer/Director Johannes Nyholm on the Dreamy Surrealism of KOKO-DI KOKO-DA". Daily Dead. 1 October 2019.
  2. "'Koko-di Koko-da' Review: Trapped in a twisted fairy tale". 20 February 2019.
  3. "Sundance Unveils Politics-Heavy Lineup Featuring Ocasio-Cortez Doc, Feinstein Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. "Koko-di Koko-da (2020) – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Fandango Media. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.