Anti-Pastoral Allegory in Border

Border (Gräns) directed by Ali Abbasi, blends elements of magical realism, folklore, and social critique, making it a unique contribution to contemporary cinema.

Katie Ritson and Nicole Seymour provide a nuanced analysis of the film's complex themes, focusing on the intertwining of pastoral imagery and the critique of state care.

Premise:

The film juxtaposes idyllic pastoral visuals historically associated with rural life against a darker commentary on the welfare state's treatment of marginalized groups, particularly focusing on the repercussions of forced assimilation and sterilization policies.

Definition: Traditionally linked to a simplistic and idealized vision of rural life, pastoral also reflects notions of care, protection, and nurturing environments.
Application: Ritson and Seymour argue that the film subverts these idyllic representations by revealing the detrimental effects of the welfare state's misguided attempts at care, emphasizing how such interventions can lead to violence rather than protection.
Examples of Harm: Historical practices depicted include forced assimilation of Indigenous populations and the sterilization of intersex individuals, illustrating the tragic outcomes of state-controlled welfare mechanisms.

Tina: A central character, Tina is a customs agent endowed with unique sensory abilities, allowing her to perceive smuggling in a way others cannot. She represents the impact of state care on personal identity, struggling with her roots and heritage.
Vore: Conversely, Vore embodies the awareness of their troll ancestry and the historical violence inflicted on marginalized groups. His character connects deeply with themes of exclusion and identity as an outsider.

Rejections of Normativity: The film tackles the notion of sexual awakening and personal identity through the lens of cultural and physical ugliness, challenging mainstream perceptions of beauty and acceptance.
Social Commentary: By portraying horrific historical practices of assimilation and sterilization, the film critiques idealized views of state care, prompting a re-evaluation of the welfare state's role in perpetuating violence.

Setting: Set against the backdrop of the Swedish welfare state, the film underscores the historical violent relationships between state mechanisms and Indigenous or marginalized populations.
Cultural Mythology: Employing troll folklore allows the film to bridge historical narratives with contemporary issues, showcasing how legends reflect societal fears and power dynamics.
Historical Context: The narrative draws on medieval beliefs linking trolls with resistance to Christian colonization and ancient pagan practices, thereby situating trolls as metaphors for resilience and cultural identity.
Institutional Critique: Argues that modern welfare mechanisms mirror past oppressive practices, perpetuating cycles of violence against marginalized identities.

Tina's Assimilation: Tina's journey symbolizes how the pressure to assimilate distorts personal identity and underscores the violence inherent in state care systems. Her character illustrates the isolating effects of losing one's cultural roots in the pursuit of acceptance.
Vore's Existence: Living outside societal norms, Vore's character represents the complexities of acceptance and belonging for historical outsiders, offering a stark contrast to Tina’s assimilationist struggles.
Emergency of Non-Normative Identities: The film reveals ongoing tensions surrounding representation and acceptance of diverse identities, particularly in contexts shaped by historical trauma.

Queerness: Explores the relationship between beauty, ugliness, and societal rejection, positioning resistance as an act of claiming one’s identity against dominant societal norms.
Sensory Experience: Tina’s heightened senses symbolize alternative perspectives on existence and reality, suggesting new methods of understanding identity beyond traditional frameworks.
Intersections of Queer Theory and Ecology: The thematic exploration encapsulates the relationship between nature, queerness, and the significance of bodily autonomy, emphasizing the importance of ecological consciousness in discussions of identity.

Violence Behind Care: Unpacking the darker aspects of state care, the film reveals the coercive surgeries and policies targeting marginalized identities, thereby exposing the often hidden violence beneath the surface of care.
Medical Violence: The narrative parallels between Tina's experiences and the systemic violence faced by intersex individuals serve to highlight pervasive issues within medical and institutional practices.
Feminist Perspectives: The film engages with complex dynamics of gender, power relations, and reproductive justice, interrogating how institutional settings manage and control bodies and identities.

Final Sequence: The final sequence introduces a significant shift, presenting the concept of nurturing and care through Tina’s discovery of a troll baby, symbolizing a disruption of normative kinship paradigms.
Crisis of Registration: This ties into broader themes of identity and belonging, questioning societal definitions of who can belong and who is considered ‘other.’
Care Paradox: The film infers that institutional definitions of care often emphasize control and normativity rather than genuine nurturing, prompting audiences to reconsider what true care entails.
Cultural Restoration: Ultimately, the film seeks to reclaim and redefine identities historically marginalized and oppressed, advocating for a broader understanding of care that respects diversity and intersectionality.