Popular reviews

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  Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½ 4

  ON THE ROAD: SWEDEN - LAND OF THE TALL, THE SOUNDS, IKEA, ABBA & THE ICE HOTEL

  Came into this movie completely blind while I was looking for another film for the marathon, and this was on some list as some of the best Swedish movies—I only knew it was like a period drama. Absolutely didn’t expect some of that; I don’t know how to put it. Quirky? Sort of odd comedic vibes with random men playing hide and seek, except when each of them finds where one was hidden, they shoot them with a fake gun? The romance was both conventional and unconventional. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I am currently watching a Lanthimos film, but I…

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  Review by aurora ꨄ ★★★★★ 5

  doomed romance. lovers sleeping in the shade of a tree. buzzing insects. frolicking in summer fields. silk ribbons tied in long blonde hair. shaving cream kisses. finding shapes in clouds. soft touches. knitting a sweater for your lover. chasing butterflies. reading out loud in bed. straw hats. ladybugs landing on noses. weaving flower crowns. stealing the clothesline to tie between trees and balance across. bird chirping. a picnic basket filled with fruit and bread and cheese. red wine spilled of white linen. true love. white beaches. stolen rowboats. life on the run. dreamy lace dresses. betraying your country for love. seeing through your lover's eyes. the whole world in a blade of grass. dappled sunlight on the forest floor. passionate…

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  Review by SkaneNoise ★★★★½

  Let’s go! Have two smart characters who unconditionally love one another, even in their despair. Have great music. Have chemistry between the leads that makes you feel a little excited and a little envious. Have the film directed in a knowingly playful way that is just this side of an overt wink and nod to the audience, you can feel the filmmaker knowing you’re there, but the bastard will not fully acknowledge you. And to do all of this and make a good anti-capitalist parable that fits right into its mid/late 60’s vibe?! Bravo!

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  Review by shookone ★★★

  impressionistic subversion. Adam and Eve in a Midsummer fever dream, turning into the nightmare once the golden, sunny dust has settled. the good life is never lasting long, and love vanishes - be it through the relentless environment, be it through the relentlessness of time.

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  Review by Nils Rosengren ★★★★

  The entire script for this was two words:
  "Plocka hallon"
  (Picking raspberries)
  True story.

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  Review by Jerry ★★★ 1

  Two hearts at the center of a ticking time bomb encased in an ardor as strong as the swirling of the sea: a love that burns in a belly that can’t be sated with mere berries and clover. Swirling in an idyllic intimacy in spite of the world—some fool-hearted fancy.

  A resolve to love together in the moment rather than live at length apart. The walls that are their time together are closing in fast from all sides and will not stop this uncaring truncation.

  Darling, I don’t think we’re gonna make it.

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  Review by Scott Kelly ★★★★

  Can see how it would be easy for some critics to dismiss this tragic romance based on real life events in 19th Century Denmark as a superficial exercise in the picturesque that panders to the of the moment 1967 art house crowds with it's draft dodging make love not war message. Yet it holds up very well, unencumbered by the overt counter culture minded stylistic tics that found their way into other period set films of the sixties (Far From the Madding Crowd comes to mind). Plus it's one of the most downright gorgeously photographed films you'll ever see*; all with a lushness that anticipates the lyrical naturalism of Terrence Malick's work. Pretty people Pia Degermark (a mere 17 years…

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  Review by St. Sebastian ★★★½ 2

  The languor of a sun-drenched summer afternoon in a serene Swedish province, where colours blend softly and the symphony of daily whispers and rustles fills the air, dances with the lively interplay of light and shadow. All appears tranquil, yet beneath this calming surface lies a tragic story. Who could capture this fleeting tale of two star-crossed lovers better than Bo Widerberg? Their flight from self, the judgment of society, and the rigid morals of their era unfold like a tragic arc, spiraling from euphoric escapism to a poignant denouement reminiscent of Shakespeare's darkest works. Elvira, even in her earthly existence, resembles a real angel rather than just a circus dancer. The ground, the air, and the untainted splendor of…

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  Review by Anas Zwahri ★★★★★ 1

  Terrence Malick Was Here ..

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  Review by Jim Dooley ★★★½ 2

  The first time I took notice of ELVIRA MADIGAN was when I was programming student movies for Otterbein College one semester in the mid- 1970’s.  My constant companion was the “Films, Inc” rental catalogue, and ELVIRA MADIGAN had a half-page spread heralding it as “possibly the most beautiful film ever made.” Now, I had seen some truly beautiful movies in my time, but it very much depended on one’s definition of “beautiful.”  Was it only the imagery, or did it include performances, story structure and the emotional elements evoked?  I suspected it was primarily the imagery and, if so, I’d visit the Columbus Museum of Art instead.
     
  Ultimately, I imagined the prospective attendance of a campus student body for…

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  Review by Rock

  Ngl, I pretty much tuned out the story entirely, but this is gorgeous to look at and runs only 90 minutes.

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  Review by DungeonSkramz ★★ 2

  Widerberg was like "wow look at me doing period drama Oscar bait with picturesque nature shots and classical music", but forgot to give it more than one dimension. The most riveting plot development was when the main characters had an entire scene dedicated to discussing how they wanted their eggs done, which was definitely helped by all the voice dubbing sounding like it was recorded inside a compressed bubble.

  Pretty much the definition of style over substance, yet they never let the style carry the picture as a purely audiovisual experience, still sticking to a traditionally "tragic" narrative that was beyond predictable and cheesy, not even counting the fact that it was based on real-life events to romanticize the fate of a historical figure. I guess this is what Widerberg meant when he wanted to "show real people", but treated said people as little more than models for a shampoo commercial.