Only a Mother (1949)
"Bara en mor" (original title)

Director:

Alf Sjöberg

Writers:

Ivar Lo-Johansson (novel), Alf Sjöberg

Stars:

Eva Dahlbeck, Ragnar Falck, Ulf Palme

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eva Dahlbeck	...	Maria, aka Rya-Rya
Ragnar Falck	...	Henrik, Rya-Rya's husband
Ulf Palme	...	Hammar
Hugo Björne	...	Eniel
Åke Fridell	...	Inspector
Mona Geijer-Falkner	...	Emili
Max von Sydow	...	Nils
Margaretha Krook	...	Berta
Mimi Pollak	...	Erika Rost
Elsa Widborg	...	Cowman's wife
Olof Widgren	...	Rya-Rya's Father
Ulla Smidje	...	Cecilia, the sick girl
Sif Ruud	...	Teacher
Signe Rydberg-Eklöf	...	Rya-Rya's Mother (as Signe Eklöf)
Ernst Brunman	...	School council's chairman

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

31 October 1949 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Hän oli vain äiti

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 364,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Max von Sydow''s first movie.

User Reviews

Beautiful but a bit boring.

Alf Sjöberg has without a doubt together with cinematographer Martin Bodin created a visually stunning movie and the scenes from the midsummer celebrations reminds me of the similar scenes from Sjöberg's Fröken Julie, released the following year.

The movie has other flaws though. Perhaps Eva Dahlbeck in the lead role as Rya-Rya does not have the strength to pull this off. She was in her late 20s at the time and she is not quite convincing as an old woman on her death bed with skin smooth as silk. It is also difficult to understand why she rejects the man she loves to marry a slob with a face that only a mother can love.

Seeing this today, it is a bit comical to see something that is supposed to look like a two people immediately after a date rape when it is obvious that Rya-Rya hasn't taken her clothes off or even has had her hair messed up.