The Real Estate

Nojet (68) has led a very comfortable life abroad, but has to return to her native Sweden when her father falls ill. Once he is dead, Nojet has to figure out what to do with her inheritance; an apartment building in downtown Stockholm. She takes on the part of business woman, and takes on her new life with great confidence and vigour. However, things soon become more complicated – and what at first appeared to be a goldmine, turns out to be major drag. How are you supposed to sell a building in bad shape, where the tenants inherit each other’s leases, and are planning to take over the entire building for themselves?

The Real Estate uses experimental cinematography, with up-close camera angles, high pacing, and a catchy soundtrack. The star of the film is without a doubt Léonore Ekstrand as Nojet; she masterfully portrays a character that you can’t help but sympathise with even as you despise her.

Director Måns Månsson is known to some as the man behind The Yard (2016), and has now returned with a surrealist fable which offers up a harsh criticism of today’s housing market. Combined with the excellent portrait of a tough-as-nails ageing woman who has to fight to survive, this makes for a coal black comedy that will make you laugh and shudder all at once.