So Damn Easy Going
Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Swedish author Jenny Jägerfeld, Så jävla easy going (So Damn Easy Going), presented as part of the Carlsberg Scandinavian Film Festival, shows one reality of living with ADHD, the struggles that you don’t always see and the impacts it can have on everyday life.
Joanna (Nikki Hanseblad) or JoJo, is 18 years old and living with ADHD. As the stability of her home life changes she finds herself unable to afford the medication she needs to be able to feel ‘normal’. The film opens with JoJo turning up to see Matheus (Emil Algpeus), her on again/off again hook up buddy. The tone of isolation is set here, with JoJo not allowing herself to get emotionally close to Matheus despite his best efforts. She comes home to her father (Shanti Roney) slumped on the couch, in a clearly familiar fashion, forcing JoJo to fulfill the parental role in this home. At school new student Audrey (Melina Benett Paukkonen) catches JoJo’s eye. Through a string of aptly awkward interactions we can see a spark between the two. What makes flirting as a teenager even harder for JoJo is that she is currently withdrawing from her medication, with the feeling of electric flashes flowing through her brain and body. At this point she has to get unfortunately creative in an attempt to afford the basics in her home - food, electricity and medications.
The film beautifully portrays the ongoing and devastating effect death can have on a family and the burden that a child has to take when a parent no longer has the capacity to fulfill their role. It also really captures the feeling of isolation that comes with hiding your illness, as well as the impact that has on your relationships and connections in your community. This film has the sweetness of a coming of age story, with the harsh reality of the stigmatism and shame that come with mental health diagnoses. ADHD is a commonly misunderstood illness, often portrayed in such a stereotypical fashion that it reinforces those harsh misconceptions. The film works as a commentary on the cycle of oppression, the danger of shame and the need for universal healthcare.
On top of this it doesn’t shy away from showing queerness and the spectrum of sexuality. It’s queer romance without the need to centre the story around homophobia or identity crisis. It shows the different relationships in the same awkward teenage light.
Director Christoffer Sandler creates a world centralised around Hanseblad’s character of Joanna, allowing the audience to really see things through her eyes. With the combination of Sandler’s directing and the talent of Nikki Hanseblad as JoJo and Melina Benett Paukkonen as Audrey, it’s hard to believe this is the film debut for both actresses - both so convincingly real in each of their characters the audience can easily sympathise with their stories and form the connection needed to engage with the story line.
Så jävla easy going is a truly frustrating film to watch, capturing struggle in a way that makes the audience want to reach through the screen and fix all the protagonist's problems. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking, and while it may be hard to watch, it’s well worth the 91 minute run time.
