Three Miles North of Molkom

As any world-weary ex-student will tell you, travelling is generally considered to be A Good Thing; you meet new people, discover new places and can even end up 'finding yourself'. This is certainly the case for straight-talking Aussie rugby coach Nick, as he finds himself at Ängsbacka - the annual Swedish spirituality festival. Here, he attempts to cope with daily ‘Sharing Groups’ and other hippy-esque activities, ranging from walking over hot coals to hour-long Shamanic jaunts in the Swedish countryside. This all transpires with predictably hilarious results, but takes an unexpected turn as Nick begins to see the charm of the eclectic, enthusiastic and quirky festival-goers, and indeed, the point of Ängsbacka itself. Although the documentary is clearly intended to show us more than Nick’s experiences (we follow six others in his group, each as fascinating as the next), it’s undoubtedly through Nick’s perception that the audience gains true understanding. Unfortunately, this means you may find yourself constantly looking to the Aussie for his common-sense reaction to Ängsbacka’s crazy world - but it’s not always there. In this sense, Three Miles misses the mark slightly: as an onlooker, you feel guilty if you’re the only one laughing. That aside, Three Miles caters for sceptics and true-believers alike: a sweet, funny and uplifting look at an alternative lifestyle that exhibits true humanity in a refreshingly blissful light. [Jenni Cruickshank]