A TIMELESS LOVE STORY.
In turn-of-the-century Stockholm, young journalist Arvid Stjärnblom (Sverrir Gudnason) falls in love with an artist’s daughter (Karin Franz Körlof), but the chances of a romance are frequently dashed. The third Swedish adaptation of Hjalmar Söderberg’s classic novel (the first two came in 1945 and 1977) initially has the look and feel that makes one hope for vast improvement… but unfortunately there’s nothing new under the sun here. The romance is a little hurried, which prevents us from truly rooting for this couple, even if the cast and the production values are fine.
2016-Sweden-Denmark-Norway. 115 min. Color. Directed by Pernilla August. Screenplay: Lone Scherfig. Novel: Hjalmar Söderberg. Music: Matti Bye. Cast: Sverrir Gudnason (Arvid Stjärnblom), Karin Franz Körlof (Lydia Stille), Liv Mjönes (Dagmar Randel), Michael Nyqvist, Richard Forsgren, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard… Göran Ragnerstam.
Trivia: Original title: Den allvarsamma leken.
