A Swedish Love Story reviews
Review by on 28 Sep 2010
When the curtain quite literally opens to A SWEDISH LOVE STORY you're not quite sure what to expect from the 1970 Swedish film. Telling the strange story of the consequences of an adolescent romance that soon dominates its young lovers' lives, fights, furtive glances and whispered messages ensue and make for a compelling film. Although the dialogue is sparse, the emotion conveyed is captivating.
The infatuation is ignited when fifteen year-old Pär (Rolf Sohlman) first sees thirteen year-old Annika (Ann-Sofie Kylin) when visiting his grandfather in a nursing home where he warns his family of the perils of loneliness, a key theme of the film. The reality of ruined dreams and wasted opportunities – here poignantly signified by Eva's moving story of her thwarted aspirations to be an air stewardess – seem to lead the characters who suffer them to lives of insecurity and silenced troubles, each one carrying problems with them that they don't seem to be able to voice. Annika's father suffers this fate and consequently steals the limelight away from her love story, imposing his wasted life upon her young love.
A SWEDISH LOVE STORY is nicely filmed; a fact which is noticeable from the off. The titles for example surround Pär without obscuring him or his surroundings. The film's story unravels slowly and its simplistic content is directed well. The intricate emotions it deals with are stripped and dealt with head-on. Despite A SWEDISH LOVE STORY being a slow-burner, Pär and Annika's love may be silent but dominates the film.
Naomi Barnwell
The infatuation is ignited when fifteen year-old Pär (Rolf Sohlman) first sees thirteen year-old Annika (Ann-Sofie Kylin) when visiting his grandfather in a nursing home where he warns his family of the perils of loneliness, a key theme of the film. The reality of ruined dreams and wasted opportunities – here poignantly signified by Eva's moving story of her thwarted aspirations to be an air stewardess – seem to lead the characters who suffer them to lives of insecurity and silenced troubles, each one carrying problems with them that they don't seem to be able to voice. Annika's father suffers this fate and consequently steals the limelight away from her love story, imposing his wasted life upon her young love.
A SWEDISH LOVE STORY is nicely filmed; a fact which is noticeable from the off. The titles for example surround Pär without obscuring him or his surroundings. The film's story unravels slowly and its simplistic content is directed well. The intricate emotions it deals with are stripped and dealt with head-on. Despite A SWEDISH LOVE STORY being a slow-burner, Pär and Annika's love may be silent but dominates the film.
Naomi Barnwell
Review by on 22 Sep 2010
A treat to catch this delightful, rarely screened film. Very different from Roy Andersson's later style
Review by on 20 Sep 2010
Roy Andersson’s purely realistic Swedish drama follows two timid adolescents in a 1970’s Stockholm, taking their first steps into love. They are completely oblivious to their parents, unfulfilled by love and with lost dreams. The teen romance truly is faithful to real life – with no real beginning middle or end. Annika (Ann-Sofie Kylin) and Pär (Rolf Sohlman) encircle themselves in their own world where nothing matters but them – sound familiar? The truth of real life was maintained throughout the film with simplistic dialogue, honest lingering close ups, respect to emotions and cruelly sharp edits. This kept the mood inconsistent but dynamic – a little like life I suppose, you never know what’s coming around the corner.
The comedy was beautifully timed with awkward situations which touch on painful with the embarrassment. A British sense of humour came surprisingly through dry sarcasm and carefully placed irony. It was these moments that kept me waiting through the two hour long epic since they were too brilliant to miss.
I had a pessimistic expectation that Annika and Pär would never end up together and was almost disappointed when they did. Things were a lot more fun when you were internally screaming for him to kiss her, him ignoring you and leaping straight back onto to his roaring moped. However, the romance remained without sugared sentimentality and pleasantly unglamorous in its portrayal.
Outside of the love story, Andersson does keep things relevant, capturing the country on the verge of an economic crisis simply but powerfully. The values of the countrymen are raw and passionate and an apparent patriotism shines through the film.
A Swedish Love Story never goes into great elaboration and keeps things subtle. The tender love of the teens is harshly juxtaposed with their lifeless parents and the audience is left hoping that somehow, Annika and Pär will be alright. Andersson’s intentional optimism is far from exaggerated but just enough to leave you saying it was a feel-good film. It captures moments we all remember without words and describes actions we cannot explain.
Louisa Clack
The comedy was beautifully timed with awkward situations which touch on painful with the embarrassment. A British sense of humour came surprisingly through dry sarcasm and carefully placed irony. It was these moments that kept me waiting through the two hour long epic since they were too brilliant to miss.
I had a pessimistic expectation that Annika and Pär would never end up together and was almost disappointed when they did. Things were a lot more fun when you were internally screaming for him to kiss her, him ignoring you and leaping straight back onto to his roaring moped. However, the romance remained without sugared sentimentality and pleasantly unglamorous in its portrayal.
Outside of the love story, Andersson does keep things relevant, capturing the country on the verge of an economic crisis simply but powerfully. The values of the countrymen are raw and passionate and an apparent patriotism shines through the film.
A Swedish Love Story never goes into great elaboration and keeps things subtle. The tender love of the teens is harshly juxtaposed with their lifeless parents and the audience is left hoping that somehow, Annika and Pär will be alright. Andersson’s intentional optimism is far from exaggerated but just enough to leave you saying it was a feel-good film. It captures moments we all remember without words and describes actions we cannot explain.
Louisa Clack
Film details
A Swedish Love Story
ROY ANDERSSON
Director: Roy Andersson
Actor: Ann-Sofie Kylin
Actor: Rolf Sohlman
Actor: Anita Lindblom
Actor: Ann-Sofie Kylin
Actor: Rolf Sohlman
Actor: Anita Lindblom
Sweden, 1970.
115 mins. with English subtitles.
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