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Now showing on the big screen at the Fargo Theatre the winner of five Swedish academy awards, a film by 76 year old director Jan Troel.

The movie is another of many “literature on the screen” that so many indies seem to be these days.  It is  period piece, set in Sweden, beginning in 1907 and continuing through World War One and a little after.  An interesting period of history, one tht I’ve always wondered about.  Specifically, if World War I was really a world war, then how were the Scandinavian countries, for example affected?  Well if this movie is true to the time, they were, so the movie interested me from that perspective.

The movie is essentially about the Larsson family.  The father, Sigge(Mickhel Persbrant), is a laborer and a drunk.  The story is told as a narrative
by the oldest daughter, Maja, in a large brood of children.  The story centers around the trials of the Larsson family and in large part, Sigge’s wife Marta, played by Marta Heiskonen.  This is amusing, since Heiskonnen is apparently a Finnish name, and the Marta of the movie is also a Finn.

I loved the depiction of life in Sweden during this time period(the movie begins in Malmo, but moves around, as a drunk would), the early motor cars, the street scenes, complete with street cars.  Recall that in that period of history there was a significant socialist or communist movement.  Capitalism and Royal power were being called into question. All of these issues are dealt with in a gentle fashion.

The Larsson family is, of course, not wealthy.  In desperation, Marta digs out an old camera to sell, and takes it to a camera shp run by the Dane Mr. Pedersen(Jacob Christensen).  Instead, Pederson shows her how to use the camera and how to turn a profit doing so.  So this is all the meat for the story, which I won’t divulge, but really the film just tells the story of this family during the 15 year of so period.  The acting was excellent and the cinematography very satisfactory.  However, I must say that I didn’t buy the progression of the disease of alcoholism in Sigge nor Marta as an alcoholics wife.  Also, the movie is iin Swedish with English subtitles.  The subtitling could have been a lot better.

So, if you like period pieces and/or “literature on the screen” I think you’ll enjoy this one.  If cause scenes and violence, or mysteries are your bag, then I think you should look elsewhere.

Story:  B
Acting:  A
Believability:  B
Historical Interest:  A-

At the beginning of this review I mentioned the “Big Screen” at the Fargo Theatre.  There is also a small theatre attached to the main building called The Fargo Theatre Off Broadway.  This is a brand new, modern, theater that seats 99, a good number for movies showing at the Fargo.  The seats are comfortable, the sound system good, and there is a very attractive and spacious lobby with old movie posters on the walls.  It does not have a separate entrance than the main theater.  I look forward to seeing more movies in this venue.