Reviews (5)

Gesellschaft and Gemeinschaft collide!
While watching this film, the viewer cannot escape the feeling that he is witnessing a collision between what the Sociologist Ferdinand Toennies called "Gemeinschaft" (the rural village) and "Gesellschaft" (the modern city), or what Emile Durkheim called "mechanical solidarity" and "organic solidarity." But Colin Nutley's unfortunate sociological propaganda aside (the film is hamhandedly pro-Gesellschaft/organic solidarity), this film is a highly entertaining, and ultimately touching film about a young woman's return to her roots, the resulting conflict with the locals, and, finally, a heart warming peace.

very entertaining
I really enjoyed watching this movie because it is humorous and engaging. The protagonist, Fanny Zander, comes to a Swedish village to see the house which her grandfather left her in his will. All the women in the village start disliking her immediately because of the way she dresses and her profession. (She is a night club performer.)Some of the women become jealous of her because she attracts male attention. They also dislike her companion because he is dark.
Axel Flogfält dislikes her because she refuses to sell the house to him.
The movie is thoroughly enjoyable and a little unpredictable.

Delightful Screen Presence
A story composed of small things made delightful by the beautiful female lead, Helena Bergstrom.

My favorite Swedish Movie!
This movie is so fabulous, and so very Swedish! The people, the town, the way they react to this girl who is thrown in amongst them... This movie is a masterpiece. It is clever and witty, and yet charming and touching. Absolutely recommended!

A beautiful movie about love, understanding and greed.
House of Angles is a true gem and a great purchase.

The eccentric owner of the largest manor in a small Swedish town leaves his estate upon his death to his granddaughter, a cabaret singer based in Germany who he has never met. When she arrives to claim her inheritance, dressed in a sleek black dress, just in time for her grandfather's funeral, she sends this small traditional village into a tailspin. Fear of the unknown, greed and prejudice surface as the village's most powerful rancher mounts a campaign to buy her newly inherited land, at a discount. As the two fight for control, they discover something extraordinary... House of Angles is a charming and heartwarming movie with beautiful cinematography and a strong cast. And best of all, it is a fun movie to watch! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Warms the heart
A sweet film that is set in 1956 in the lush Swedish countryside. It tells the story of a kind-hearted, lonely and illiterate Swedish farmer, Olof, now 40 years old, who has never had a female companion. He decides that the time has come to look for a woman and places an ad in the paper for a housekeeper. The beautiful Ellen Lind, played by Helena Bergström, answers the call and sets herself up as a housekeeper in his dilapidated old farmhouse. With the two of them all alone in the house, things are bound to happen.

Olof's young friend Erik, played by Johan Widerberg, is suspicious of this woman. He too has fallen for her. What could she possibly see in Olof, he wonders - and he has no compunctions about voicing his reservations out loud. Eric is an unpleasant man, clearly up to no good. There is an interesting, manipulative, almost abusive relationship between him and Olof. Clearly, he is trying to prevent Olof from obtaining happiness, so he can keep using him and controlling him. Or is it so clear? Is he merely looking out for his well being?

Though the film is definitely on the sentimental side, the character of Erik creates a centre of tension that kept me on edge the whole time. All the characters are deep and well thought out, they all make perfect sense. They ring true. Rolf Lassgård in the part of Olof perhaps over acted a bit, but not to the extent that would put me off from watching.

It's a warm film, a film that might leave you feeling just a bit more hopeful about humanity. And that's not such a bad thing, is it?

Swedish summer, love, friendship, and a letter...
In the beginning of the summer Olof (Rolf Lassgård), a big farmer, decides to hire a maid through the personals in a local newspaper, but in actuality he is looking for companionship. Awkwardly Olof approaches the whole matter with difficulty as he is illiterate for which he suffers in silent shame. Despite his anxiety he goes through the process with the whole village being aware of his add in the personals. Olof receives two responses, but he responds to the letter from the beautiful Ellen (Helena Bergström) as it contains a photo. When Ellen arrives Olof is extremely nervous as he doubts that she will take the job as a maid. However, she is willing to take the job without delay to Olof's astonishment. Olof's friend, Erik (Johan Widerberg), is on the other hand very suspicious about Ellen and what her scheme is as she seems to be out of her environment. Under the Sun is a warm and sensitive film about insecurities and love as the audience ventures with Olof through his social dilemmas. This social journey is enhanced by Rolf Lassgård's amazing performance as the big farmer that has a very limited life experience from outside the farm. A trademark for Nutley's films is the amazing shots of scenery which are apparent in this film. One could say that Nutley basically brings summer to the audience as he provides a brilliant cinematic experience in Under the Sun.

Sweet, gentle romance, tastefully done
This is another recent foreign film which just blows anything Hollywood has put out in recent years right out of the water.

Rolf Lassgård is lovable as the big lug Olof, a 40-something virgin out to fulfill his mother's dying wish that he get himself a lady. But hopelessly shy and awkward, his only method of reaching out is to put an ad in a local paper seeking a live-in maid.

Director Colin Nutley casts his own wife, the wholesomely radiant Helena Bergström, in the role of Ellen, the mysterious and enchanting woman who comes to the remote farm to take the job.

Also on the scene is Olof's friend Erik, a cocky young man who has been to America and fancies himself a man of the world. We are thrown off balance at the beginning of the film by Erik's seemingly unnatural interest in Olof's new living arrangements, but by the end of the film we come to understand him and see him for just what he is.

Nutley takes things slow, and what I really enjoyed about this movie was the very low-key and understated way that an erotic tension was allowed to gradually build up between the three. Very refreshing to those of us overdosed on Hollywood's in-your-face, over-the-top directness these days.

Plot complications naturally ensue, but the honesty of the ending will have you cheering.

All I can say is, thank goodness there are still places on this planet where people are not infected with the cynical sarcasm so prevalent in our North American culture today, and are not afraid of genuine emotions. Thank you Sweden!

"This house needs a woman's touch"
Set in the Swedish countryside during the 1950's, UNDER THE SUN is a story about friendship, betrayal, and love. Olof is a simple farmer who has been living alone since his mother passed away nine years old. His only friend, Erik, is a slick twenty-something who takes advantage of Olof's friendship and his inability to read. In an effort for female company Olof puts an ad in the paper for a young cleaning woman (photograph requested). Ellen, an exquisite and beautiful bombshell, answers Olof's ad with a desire to live in the country. She has a challenge ahead of her, as Olof's house is completely dirty. But while she begins her cleaning tasks she is frequently interrupted by the longing stares and conversation of Olof and Erik. Both seem to be unable to resist her charm and beauty. As a result of Ellen, Olof and Erik's friendship is strained. Ellen doesn't believe Erik's actions are altruistic while Erik questions the intentions of Ellen. As the film progresses both men fall in love with Ellen which only complicates their lives.

The cinematography is beautiful. Situated in the Swedish countryside with rolling green hills and winding roads that appear to go nowhere, the viewer is easily entranced with the landscape. Hallmarks of life in Scandinavia are plenty. Set during the summertime the character go to bed at 9pm while the sun still shines. Despite the cinematography the significance of the intermediate shots of fighter jets and planes in the sky lost me. I could not make a connection between those scenes and the film itself. Regardless, UNDER THE SUN is a touching film.

Oh my goodness, what a romance
While watching this movie with my husband last night, I kept saying aloud, "Oh my goodness, this is lovely, just lovely." It's so lush and lyrical and downright touching (oooh, I hate to use that word, for fear readers will think it's sappy or stupid, and it's not - but it IS touching). You fear all will not end well for dear Olaf, a huge country 'boy,' a 40yo self-proclaimed virgin whose other major problem is that he's illiterate. But Olaf has a heart of the purest gold. He has lived alone on a remote Swedish country farm with his dog and his chickens, cows, and horses. There is one 'friend,' Eric, a slick man-of-the-world, who has been borrowing money from him. Olaf can't even read the IOU notes Eric gives him now and then.
Olaf, shy and socially awkward, has been alone since his mother's death a decade earlier. There's nothing weird about his love for his mother; you don't get the sense he's a momma's boy. It's just that, way out at the end of the road, there's not much opportunity to meet women. So he puts an ad in a big newspaper for 'a housekeeper.'
Enter: Ellen. Obviously a city girl, in her fitted suit, upswept French twist, and high heels. And obviously, she has a past, a secret, a hidden flaw, because otherwise, why would this urbane woman be answering an ad to go live on a remote farm?
Eric, jealous and fearful that his abuse of Olaf's trust will be discovered, determines to discover Ellen's secret.
That's enough of a set-up to get you started on your way to the video store to rent this absolutely beautiful, redemptive movie. See it, and recommend it to all your friends if you love it as much as I did. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent dark comedy
This movie deals with relationships, both between friends and partners, with lots of humor in all the trauma and sadness. You'll love the characters - you'll hate them. Colin Nutley has an extraordinary talent to see through the Swedes, and Helena Bergström is,as always, GREAT. A plus for the ABBA inspired soundtrack too! ... Read more