Swedish Indie DirectorCarl Sundström’s Safe Haven Review

A while back I was lucky enough to see a short film from the very talented Carl Sundström with Finally Alone. Now, I’m lucky enough to have been given a preview of a short he made in 2017, Safe Haven. For a film he made earlier in his career, it’s certainly not lacking in quality. The short film trailer can be seen first up in a showreel that includes more of this director’s work.

Ruby Tuesday Film Festival Via Film Freeway

At present, Safe Haven premiered in the UK at the Ruby Tuesday Short Film Festival. This festival screened the film during the summer of 2019 at the Royal Manor Theatre. Ruby Tuesday’s next event commences on July 20th, 2019, so keep an eye out if you’re in the vicinity.

Safe Haven has been released online and you can watch the title below. See the full film below and check out the showreel of his full range of works.

Carl said this is one of the films he’s most proud of and hopes it will provide more to audiences than just cheap scares. Safe Haven definitely does that. It’s an impactful journey through disparity and sadness and I loved every one of its 13 and a half minutes. I’ve also included the full trailer at the end of the article.

What is “Safe Haven” About?

Safe Haven begins with crime scene photos. A camera flash ignites each terrifying scene along with the familiar whine of its processor. A woman then explains how her life ended in this mess of blood and chaos.

The story itself is a tale of tragedy through the choices we make. The Safe Haven short film features a character referred to only as a ‘woman,’ and an authority. The authority, seen only as a silhouette represents much of society’s failures in dealing with issues such as depression and abuse. For anyone who has had their lives touched by either of these things, this film will leave you with plenty to think about.

The woman tells her story through visual sequences of flashbacks and narrative as she remembers her life.

Safe Haven manages to leave you with a feeling of melancholy from its emotive and strong imagery long after the credits roll.

Carl Sundström

Above all, Carl Sundström is a talent to look out for if you want to see indie filmmaking taken to a big-budget feel. Carl’s production company is Spying Moth Entertainment and I look forward to anything else this guy has to offer.

I give Safe Haven

4 I need a drink after that out of 5

Director Statement

“We are living in a strange and often terrifying world. A world where equals are treated as different. In the eyes of millions, there is a burning disdain for humans they view as inferior to themselves.

SAFE HAVEN is made from a perspective that might be more real than what our eyes are revealing to us in our everyday life. It shows you the narration from an equation that has been treated as inferior, her entire life. As history has shown, hate creates hate, which creates vengeance. In this case, history won’t change, but maybe the downcast will get its revenge. 
I present to you, a story from the other side that is rooted deep down in reality.”