Maria Larsson's Everlasting Moments

2008. Dir: Jan Troell. Starring: Maria Heiskanen, Mikhail Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen, Emil Jensen and Ghita Nørby. ●●●●●



I am so very glad I had the opportunity to watch this beautiful and moving film from Sweden, and I can fully recommend the picture to anyone with even the slightest interest in love stories in film.

Essentially it is a tale of a woman (Heiskanen) who falls in love with 2 men. The first is her husband (Persbrandt), a strong, rebellious manual labourer, who drinks, womanises and evetually beats his wife and children. The second is a more cultured photographer (Christensen - Mr. White from Casino Royale) who the woman meets whilst trying to pawn her camera. The photographer teaches her how to use the camera, and through that Mrs. Larsson finds a new outlook on life, the camera becoming a symbol of her independence and strength against her brutish husband.



It's a curious thing, love, and this film gets right into the heart of how a woman can love 2 people equally but vastly differently. With her husband the love is borne of duty and family, and there are times when he is surprisingly touching and romantic to her. Her love for the photograher, whilst wholey chaste is no less powerful, and when he moves away to be with his granddaughter there were tears running down my face at what might have been.

All three of the leads put in superb performances, Heiskanen is especially moving as the woman torn. At the same time Persbrandt finds enough humanity in the role of Sigge to stop him from becoming a cardboard cut out monster.

The script is perfect with even the cliched narration by one of the duaghters and end of a last frame left in the camera seeming to be natural rather than forced. Importantly the film doesn't shy away from the effects of domestic violence and the terror of living with a volatile bully.

The film stock is desaturated giving the cinematography a sepia tinge, entirely in keeping with the themes. The set decoration is also incredibly real, with exactly the right amount of detail.

The use of Carter Burwell's theme from Gods and Monsters is also incredibly moving, and used at just the right time to get maximum effect.

Overall this is a superb film, and one I would recommend to everyone.