'Deliver Me' Review: Director Anna Zackrisson's gripping Nordic Netflix drama packs a powerful punch
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: 'Deliver Me' aka 'I dina händer' is a Swedish mini-series streaming on Netflix from Wednesday, April 24. The Nordic drama tells the story of two young friends, Douglas Arnfeldt (Olle Strand) and Bilal Ali (Yasir Hassan), who find themselves caught in the violent world of crime. The world they discover is too dangerous for their young minds. The series is based on a novel of the same name by Malin Persson Giolito.
The makers of 'Deliver Me' tell a story about crime in the most sensitive way possible and create empathy for every character. Despite the actions of Douglas, you do feel for him as an audience and want him to get a second chance at life.
The story is told from the standpoint of two characters but it seeps out into a much larger social problem that the makers feel deeply about. The show does not engage in preachy commentary but makes you as a viewer sit up and take notice of the alienated sections of the society.
Subliminal and sensitive writing forms the core of 'Deliver Me'
The screenplay by Alex Haridi and Amanda Högberg draws out the character arcs beautifully and shows the journey of two innocent children in a world that they are fascinated by without knowing the repercussions of their actions. The dramatization of scenes does not look forced and is more character-driven than de rigueur.
The pain of Douglas (Olle Strand), a child having to deal with the complex workings of the law and order system and the toll it takes on him while never losing sight of his unforgivable action of shooting his best friend Bilal (Yasir Hassan), is managed masterfully in the screenplay. The writers keep asking questions through situations and the most important question they ask is who should be responsible for the actions of the child.
The cinematographer Andréas Lennartsson does not shy away from leaving the camera static and capturing pathos through performances but also through visual poetry. Darkness is an ally for the cinematographer here and the cold, dark city nights help Andréas create the perfect imagery to complement the writing and performances.
A special mention must go to the music score of the series as it haunts you and reverberates long after you've heard it. Editing of the series is crisp and five episodes is the perfect length for the series.
Olle Stone and Yasir Hassan are stunning in their debuts in 'Deliver Me'
The two newcomers, Olle Strand and Yasir Hassan show a command of their craft that is much beyond their years. The series requires them to show a plethora of emotions from being joyful teenagers to being stuck in a violent, unforgiving world, they come out on top in every frame that they get.
The more experienced actors Yusra Warsama, Ane Dahl Torp, and Ardalan Esmaili are very good in their parts. They hold the show together and elevate the other performances very skillfully. Solomon Njie is a revelation as Mehdi Bah. He is an actor to watch out for.
Director Anna Zackrisson delivers a powerful show
Filmmaking is often a juxtaposition of multiple montages but what makes it come alive is the intangible qualities of subtext and emotion that the filmmaker can add to those montages. Director Anna Zackrisson has passionately added a lot of emotion to a series that deals with complex subjects and stars inexperienced actors.
The world of the show is a character in itself and adds to the journey of the protagonists while it is held accountable for the struggles of the fringe communities.
Overall, this show is an intense watch that touches on important subjects while telling a compelling story.
'Deliver Me' trailer
'Deliver Me' aka 'I dina händer' is streaming on Netflix from April 24, 2024
