Mr Governor

Anders Björck is a seasoned Swedish political administrator with both national and international experience. A former minister of defense, he is now governor of the region of Uppsala. First-time director Måns Månsson follows the politician, now in his sixties, as he goes about his daily duties. Björck spends most of his time attending official engagements, where he cuts ribbons, makes speeches, and dines with dignitaries, including the king and queen. He can also be found in his office, where he receives colleagues, arranges his schedule, makes phone calls, and takes notes on matters of current business. As viewed through Månsson's lens, Björck's working life appears rather dull, bereft of any drama. Nonetheless, the always relaxed and good-humored governor provides us with an interesting peek behind the scenes. The camera is obviously present, but Björck ignores this fact. What's more, we see nothing of Björck's private life because Månsson is primarily interested in his role as a politician. Månsson is a great admirer of 1960s cinema verité and films in 16mm black-and-white. Although he mostly opts for stationary shots, he doesn't use a tripod to film them. There are no interviews or explanatory voice-overs; it is the drawn-out, detailed scenes that hold our attention, rather than the narrative itself.