The 15th iteration of the Stockholm International Film Festival is up and running as of a few days ago, and lasts until next Sunday. So far, I’ve seen an interview with Todd Solondz; his latest film, Palindromes; and just now, Primer — this year’s surprise Sundance Grand Jury Award winner.

Solondz was interviewed by somebody who, apparently, is the doyen of Swedish film critics, but also in dire need of retirement — Nils-Petter Sundgren. Sundgren spent 45 minutes performing non-sequiturs on Solondz: He’d ask a question Solondz would need repeated, then he’d interrupt halfway through the response with “Yes, my children saw Deep Throat when they were 12,” to the most incomprehending open-mouthed stare by the director. Organizationally, too, it was a disaster, but Solondz seemed simultaneously pleased and confused to be there, so no harm done.

Palindromes is a slighter movie than Happiness. It has one big original idea: Changing the actress that plays the lead role every few scenes, to underscore a central theme of the movie — that our superficial looks are accidental, but that our identities are not. I’m not sure that this is true, but the movie remains interesting enough in that bleak but funny Solondz way to keep watchingThe soundtrack‘s theme song is extremely catchy, and the Christian rock scenes are hilarious..

Primer‘s originality is rawer and broader, and is one of those movies where the plot mechanics are so complex that they require a second viewing by default. Just as with Memento, the film radically alters the perceived timeline of events — in this case, by building a (first-ever believable) time machine, and then another, and then by transporting one machine through the other, and that’s just for starters. And just as with Memento, plot analysis is now flying thick and fast on bulletin boards. While this film is no new 2001: A Space Oddysey (who are these reviewers?) the shot compositions are very well done and the tense mood is sustained throughout the film, despite the fact (or is it because) you have no idea what is going on for most of the time.

You can catch Primer Monday at 1600h and Tuesday at 1500h, at Skandia on Drottninggatan. (Trailer). I need to see it again, and I recommend it, though ultimately more as an addictive puzzle-solving exercise than as pure cinematic bliss.

Update 0137h: I forgot to ask: Is there anything I should make sure not to miss this week?