Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick (2008)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Jan Troell

Writers:

Niklas Rådström (screenplay)
Jan Troell (story)

Release Date:

24 September 2008 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her whole life.

Plot Keywords:

Camera | Working Class | 1900s | Alcoholic | Worker

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Maria Heiskanen	...	Maria Larsson
Mikael Persbrandt	...	Sigfrid Larsson
Jesper Christensen	...	Sebastian Pedersen
Callin Öhrvall	...	Maja Larsson (age 15-22)
Nellie Almgren	...	Maja Larsson (age 8-10)
Birte Heribertsson	...	Maja Larsson (narration) / Aunt Tora
Ghita Nørby	...	Miss Fagerdal
Amanda Ooms	...	Matilda
Emil Jensen	...	Englund
Claire Wikholm	...	Grandmother Karna
Ann Petrén	...	Ida
Antti Reini	...	Finnish Sea Captain
Annika Lundgren	...	Miss Öst
Maria Lundqvist	...	Miss Petrén
Hans Henrik Clemensen	...	Mr. Fagerdal

Also Known As:

Everlasting Moments (Canada: English title) (festival title) (UK) (USA)
Die ewigen Augenblicke der Maria Larsson (Germany)
Ikuistetut hetket (Finland)
Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moment (International: English title)
Maria Larssons evige øjeblik (Denmark)
Maria Larssons evige øyeblikk (Norway)

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

Denmark | Finland | Norway | Sweden | Germany

Language:

Swedish | Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:11 | Finland:K-11 | USA:Unrated | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Luleå, Norrbottens län, Sweden

Company:

Blind Spot Pictures Oy

Trivia:

Sweden's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009).

Movie Connections:

Features Easy Street (1917)

Soundtrack:

After the Ball

I Remember Mama: Swedish style

I recently saw this at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival and it would be among my favorites of this years festival. Everlasting moments was Sweden's official entry for the 81st Academy Awards and although not nominated it did make the short list of nine and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Set in the port city of Malmo in Southern Sweden beginning in the year 1907 it tells the story of Maria Larsson (Maria Heiskanen) and her hard working dock worker husband Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt) who is abusive to Maria and battles the bottle and infidelity issues. Maria is a Finnish immigrant married to the Swedish Sigfrid and they have a rocky marriage but Sigfrid is a good provider when sober and they start a large family. Maria once won a camera in a lottery and is considering selling it when the Danish owner of a photography shop, Jesper (Sabastian Pederson) convinces her to use the camera and become an amateur photographer. It begins a long friendship between Jesper and Maria much to the chagrin of Sigfrid. The story is told in narrative by the Larsson's daughter Maja (Callin Ohrvall) as she remembers the hardships of life in early 20th century Sweden and the strengths of her mother that kept the family together. It's kind of reminiscent of the 40's film classic I Remember Mama. A wonderful story based on the remembrances of a real life Maja who lived from 1902 to 1991. From veteran director Jan Troell its a beautiful period piece with wonderful cinematography by Mischa Gaurjusjov and Troell himself. The attention to detail in reproducing the times is amazing from set designer Peter Bauman and costume designer Karen Gram. I would give this a 9.5 out of 10 and recommend it.