During WWII, Eero (Topi Majaniemi), a Finnish boy, is sent to live with a childless couple in Sweden; it becomes a trying time for everyone involved. Heikki Hietamies, the author of the book, was himself one of those children that were sent away to a foreign land without their parents; the filmmakers convincingly show us what it must have felt like. Interesting to follow Eero’s relationship with the two mother figures in his life; a well produced and gripping film. No one seems to have bothered to find local talents for the countryside parts, but Maria Lundqvist did get her breakthrough as a dramatic actor and is excellent as the embittered, grieving Signe.
2005-Finland-Sweden. 110 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Ilkka Matila. Directed by Klaus Härö. Screenplay: Jimmy Karlsson, Kirsi Vikman. Novel: Heikki Hietamies. Cast: Topi Majaniemi (Eero Lahti), Maria Lundqvist (Signe Jönsson), Michael Nyqvist (Hjalmar Jönsson), Esko Salminen, Marjaana Maijala, Aino-Maija Tikkanen… Brasse Brännström, Leif Andrée, Marie Göranzon.
Trivia: Original titles: Äideistä parhain and Den bästa av mödrar.
