Erik Vallsten

Erik Vallsten’s filmography is a wild little mix, honestly. You’ll see his name pop up in “Utanför din dörr” from way back in 2002, which, if you remember, is practically a cult classic for the Swedish indie crowd. The film dives into that gritty, awkward side of city life—think missed connections, late-night wanderings, and people just trying to figure out how the hell to talk to each other. There's this raw, almost uncomfortable honesty to it, but that's kind of the charm. Fast forward a bit and you get “En underbar jävla jul” from 2015, which is, let’s be real, the sort of Christmas movie that flips the whole genre upside down. Instead of your usual holiday fluff, it’s got family drama cranked up to eleven, with all these personalities clashing around the dinner table. People aren’t afraid to say what they mean, and the messiness feels way too familiar if you’ve ever had a “fun” family dinner. Vallsten’s role in this one gives a little comic relief without shying away from the chaos. Then there’s “Måste gitt” (2017), and man, this one’s got energy. It’s sharp, loud, and full of that restless Stockholm vibe. The story follows a guy who wants out of his neighborhood, but the past keeps biting at his heels. The dialogue snaps, the pace never really lets up, and Vallsten slots into the world with this natural, lived-in feeling. You can tell he knows these kinds of characters—flawed, messy, but weirdly likable. Altogether, Vallsten’s film choices show he’s not afraid of complicated stories or characters, and honestly, Swedish cinema’s better for it.