In Tarkovsky’s Stalker, a trio of pilgrims travel to the Zone, a forbidden, post-apocalyptic territory containing a room in which all one’s wishes can be granted. There’s a similar idea at the heart of Danish director Christoffer Boe’s metaphysical drama; referring to a section of central Copenhagen shielded from the outside world by an invisible force. Enter brilliant concert pianist Zetterstrøm (Ulrich Thomsen), desperate to retrieve missing memories of former lover Andrea (Helena Christensen).
Strip away the Bach soundtrack, omniscient narration and layers of visual artifice (including an array of film and digital video stock) and you’re left with the over-familiar story of an emotionally remote man admitting to the depth of his romantic feelings. And Allegro’s impact is also ultimately muffled by the lukewarm chemistry between its lead characters.
