Eva Melander and Eero Milonoff play odd outcasts in Sweden’s best foreign language entry.
Tina (Melander) has always been different. Picked on and reviled, she grew up with loving parents in an isolated country home. A nature lover, Tina comes home from work, kicks off her shoes and 
goes for a walk in the woods. She digs her toes deep into the rich soil and admires insects that crawl about. But by day, she stands at the country’s border as a customs officer, sniffing out smugglers with her unique olfactory abilities. Beyond just being able to detect contraband, Tina can also smell fear and other emotions.
One day, while on the job, she encounters the hulking Vore (Milonoff). Like her, this person shares her unusual looks—brown, jagged teeth, broad, prominent nose, protruding forehead, rough and ruddy complexion, and affections for nature. In time, these two will become even more acquainted as this new friend will give Tina greater insight into who she really is.
Meant as a metaphorical statement, “Border” is a fascinating fantasy that bravely explores issues involving prejudice and identity. The story constantly has you guessing as Vore is both a kind and menacing figure in Tina’s life. It’s a tension filled journey into discovery, and Tina’s worldview is altered forever.
The makeup effects that transform Melander and Milonoff into something strange but familiar are one of the film’s highlights. These effects meld seamlessly with the committed performances that are large, but still very subtle when necessary. The story explores sexuality as well, with uncomfortable sequences that reveal the truth about the key characters. These scenes have had audiences divided, but I found them convincing and unabashedly mature.
Filmmaker Ali Abbasi doesn’t shy away from complex issues that will make viewers squirm. What makes us who we are? And do we need to know where we came from? Questions such as these are addressed colorfully, but with introspection in this modern fable.
One of the best foreign language offerings of 2018, “Border” is a unique and special story about the importance of finding oneself by examining the most intimate characteristics.