Lola Upside Down

In the current wave of Nordic Noir TV series, Finland’s Lola Upside Down boldly goes against the tide. It is based on Monika Fagerholm’s similarly-named  novel, part of the weird oeuvre that the Finnish author has dedicated to youth (including The American Girl). Fagerholm’s writing owes much to Twin Peaks and David Lynch, so it’s not surprising that Lola Upside Down has a similar atmosphere.
Flatnäss is a small costal town "where people come to die" and which sports colourful characters – the mayor, some cheerleaders, a wheelchair-bound teenager and her personal girl-squad, her sister who likes older men, and clashing poets. The narrative playfully juxtaposes quirky slapstick, drama, musical and teenage spleen. Like Bruno Dumont’s Li'l Quinquin (2014), this series displays a community on TV in episodic, novel-like scope. Writer and director Ulrika Bengts gives the whole an ethereal touch but keeps her feet on the ground by highlighting pressing issues such as patriarchy, gender and class. Season 1, episodes 1 and 2.