Rob Munday

Feelings of jealousy can drive someone to act in a rash and impulsive manner, compelling them to engage in actions – such as snooping through a partner’s phone messages or shadowing them during an evening out – that violate the foundation of trust within a relationship. Máté Boegi’s 17-minute short, Svømmeren (The Swimmer), captures the story of one such individual – a sound recordist grappling with trust issues who surreptitiously listens in on his partner as they spend a day at the beach.

“The film is a deep dive into the psyche of someone who lets their imagination and insecurities get the best of them”

In Boegi’s short film, we are introduced to the main characters as Willem, a sound recordist, sets up his equipment to capture audio by the sea. While adjusting his levels, he directs his microphone towards his girlfriend Ida, who is engaged in a phone call, exposing his immediate suspicion of her. As their ensuing conversation unfolds, it becomes evident that this lack of trust is a recurring issue, plunging us into the core conflict of their relationship – an escalating jealousy that promises to intensify throughout the remainder of the film.

Describing his storyline as a “deep dive into the psyche of someone who lets their imagination and insecurities get the best of them”, Boegi was inspired to write his narrative after his own trip to the beach with his wife. With his partner off taking photos, the filmmaker’s mind started wandering and he found himself considering what would happen if “in that short time she was away, she had some secret adventure?”.

Alexander Krumhausen (L) as Willem & Theresa Carlsen as Ida in The Swimmer

From this initial thought, the writer/director started to form a story from the perspective of the person left behind, delving into the inner workings of a mind where imagination reigns supreme and often leads to turmoil. By focusing on a sound recordist, Boegi enhances the immersive aspects of his film, plunging his audience deep into Willem’s tumultuous mindset. As we become intimately acquainted with his doubts, the filmmaker almost allows us to succumb to his protagonist’s distorted perception of reality, before shattering this illusion with a sobering slap of reality.

Although the sound recordist angle adds a very specific focus to the story, The Swimmer still delivers a universal message – an element Boegi was determined to instil in his short. “It’s about challenging viewers to reflect on their own experiences with doubt and how it shapes their relationships”, he explains. Adding that he has “always been intrigued by the idea that we can be architects of our own downfall”, he set out to make a film portraying “how our actions and thoughts can weave a web we get caught in” – something we can all probably relate to.

Shot on 16mm to both keep the production simple and add a “layer of nostalgia and authenticity” to the storytelling, the aesthetic of The Swimmer does an excellent job of enhancing the emotional impact of the film. Even though you may well be able to predict the direction Boegi’s narrative will take at its conclusion, the trio of twists – Ida’s story, Willem’s revelation and the final reveal – it delivers is one of the most awkwardly satisfying viewing experiences you’re likely to ever witness in short film. Compelling, heart-breaking and deeply funny, that look on Willem’s face is the perfect ending to a gripping short film.