In 1920s Stockholm, young Roland (Jesper Salén), whose mother is Jewish and father an active Socialist, is tormented at school. American critics made unfavorable comparisons with another Swedish film that was shown internationally, My Life as a Dog (1985), but this coming-of-age tale stands on its own two feet. Based on actual events, the film shows a boy’s life as full of conflict. Colorful, with Prague locations standing in for old Stockholm working-class neighborhoods, and a memorably melancholic music score. Salén is engaging as the hot-tempered Roland; Stellan Skarsgård a stand-out as the proud but frequently frustrated father.
1993-Sweden-Denmark. 102 min. Color. Produced by Waldemar Bergendahl. Written and directed by Åke Sandgren. Novel: Roland Schütt. Cinematography: Göran Nilsson. Music: Björn Isfält. Cast: Jesper Salén (Roland Schütt), Stellan Skarsgård (Fritiof Schütt), Basia Frydman (Zipa Schütt), Niclas Olund, Ernst-Hugo Järegård, Reine Brynolfsson… Frida Hallgren, Ing-Marie Carlsson, Ernst Günther, Roland Hedlund, Tomas Norström, Heinz Hopf, Margreth Weivers, Rolf Lassgård.
Trivia: Original title: Kådisbellan.