When I sat down to watch this movie I was rather depressed. "Den bästa sommaren" changed that.
Wonderful film about two orphans spending their summer holidays together in late 50s Swedish countryside. Their "father" for the summer is a seemingly square and restrained coroner, struggling for self-respect and gaining respect from others. With the 1958 soccer World Cup (which was held in Sweden) as a background, the three of them, and the kids' teacher, find their lives changing - for the better.
Great acting, wonderful photo, good timing and a story that will make your day brighter too. 10/10.
Plot summary
The summer of '58, the year Sweden almost won the world championship in soccer over Brazil, Yngve Johansson accepts two children to live with him during the summer, as told through the eyes of a young boy. His name is Mårten, and the other child's name is Annika. She is a rough girl, with many problems. The three of them do not get along, and Yngve is a true dictator to the children's eyes. However, when the children discover that their new guardian has a crush on their teacher (Cecilia Nilsson),they do what they can to bring the two together. Soon enough, the three will discover that they have a lot more in common than they previously imagined, and together they can make their lives worth living again. This is a sweet story about life in Sweden in the mid 1900's. It is about family, love, hate, innocent friendship that we all can relate to, and much, much more. The movie invites laughter as well as tears, and the actors, both the young and the old, are very talented and the best Sweden can offer. One will never forget the scene when Yngve believes the children enjoy speed bumps!
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 803.63 MB
1280*682
Swedish 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
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I love this film!
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One of the best Swedish movies in 10 years.
This is an excellent movie that captures the same mood that is so common in Lasse Hallströms movies. The pace is excellent, it's full of good oneliners, and has a great ending. Ulf Malmroos has again proven that he is one of the best Swedish directors in modern times.
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Completely insignificant Swedish kids-but-adult-themes movie
This is a weak film. It has themes that the kids of the right age to appreciate its childish plot aren't ready to grapple with: the little girl's dream of what to be when grown up is a prostitute; the adoptive father character calls a passing black man the Swedish for a "nig*er". The film has the usual little kids' plot but chucks in provocations like these.It really doesn't have much going for it at all. The film is like the wonderful Swedish film about another child with parental difficulties, but written at a remedial level. My Life as a Dog is a marvellous film with it's playing my the lead actors, magical plot full of odd occurrences but due to the strength of the writing, believable ones. There is even time for the side-plot of the dog that the boy has had to give up, the tragic results of this which are kept from him and what the imagination of the boy does with this dog's absence. THAT is the film to see. Give this hopeless one about undertaker and kids a miss.