Instead Of Abracadabra

Tomas is 25, still lives at home with his parents, and dreams of becoming a famous magician. That he has only performed for his parents until now doesn’t seem to faze him, and the offer of appearing at a children’s party also presents the chance of romance with his attractive next-door neighbour.

Swedish filmmaker Patrik Eklund’s mesmerising short is at once poignant, disturbing and at times, hilarious.

As Tomas, Simon Berger gives a bizarrely moving performance, tinged with awkwardness but also displaying an unexpected self-confidence in his magical skills.

With a surprising sense of foreboding, Eklund quickly builds towards Tomas’ first big performance; a show of “gothic danger and mystery” where dying on stage could take on a whole new meaning…