Katarina (Alicia Vikander) is determined not to follow in the footsteps of her drunken mother and is seduced by the sophisticated world of art music – and a charismatic conductor (Samuel Fröler). Director Lisa Langseth used a play of hers as a starting point for her feature debut, a well staged drama that takes advantage of classical music in artful ways. Vikander is entirely believable in her breakthrough as the unhinged girl at the reception desk and Fröler makes a decent effort as the cliched conductor… but when you realize early on how the story is going to play out it’s easy to get frustrated. No surprises here.
2010-Sweden. 101 min. Color. Written and directed by Lisa Langseth. Cast: Alicia Vikander (Katarina), Samuel Fröler (Adam), Josephine Bauer (Birgitta), Martin Wallström, HelĂ©n Söderqvist, Kim Lantz.Â
Trivia: Original title: Till det som är vackert.
