Review: Hilde's Journey Dir: Cristoff Vorster Switzerland, 2004, 35mm, 90mins SwissGerman with English subtitles This charming movie is a serene and sad comedy of modern manners, about laying a ghost to rest. The ghost is Martin, aka Hilde (pronounced Hilda). Hilde has left as much of his wealthy family's money as possible to his ex boyfriend, the 'moody faced' Steff. Steff is described as a carpenter but whenever we see him working he seems to be restoring old furniture. Steff is desperate for money to start his own business. So this sudden and unexpected inheritance is a real godsend for him. However, a willful (and absolutely gorgeous) young man named Rex steals Hilde's ashes in order to carry out Hilde's final wish to be scattered on the sea off the coast of France. If Steff can get the urn back then he will receive some of his inheritance - at least 100,000 (kroner I think) - from Martin's mother, a gorgon of the highest respectability. Can he get the urn away from Rex? I'm not telling but I will say that everyone (the mother included) more or less gets what they want by the end of the movie ... What a pleasure to see a mature gay film, and one that breathes new life into the subject of those left behind to mourn their mutual friend who has died from AIDS. Some might find it all a bit terse and monosyllabic in a Scandinavian sort of way - even the visuals are remarkably austere, as the film turns into a road movie journeying through Switzerland and into France - but I loved it; especially the quiet way the theme of spirituality kept recurring, maybe Steff being a carpenter had something to do with that. What do you know, a movie to think about. John Curry - 30th May 2006