Show Me Love (1998)
"Fucking Åmål" (original title)

Two teenage girls in small-town Sweden. Elin is beautiful, popular, and bored with life. Agnes is friendless, sad, and secretly in love with Elin.

Director:

Lukas Moodysson

Writer:

Lukas Moodysson

Stars:

Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecka Liljeberg, Erica Carlson

19 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alexandra Dahlström	...	Elin Olsson
Rebecka Liljeberg	...	Agnes Ahlberg (as Rebecca Liljeberg)
Erica Carlson	...	Jessica Olsson
Mathias Rust	...	Johan Hulth
Stefan Hörberg	...	Markus
Josefine Nyberg	...	Viktoria (as Josefin Nyberg)
Ralph Carlsson	...	Agnes' Father Olof
Maria Hedborg	...	Agnes' Mother Karin
Axel Widegren	...	Agnes' Little Brother Oskar
Jill Ung	...	Elin's Mother Birgitta
Lisa Skagerstam	...	Camilla
Lina Svantesson	...	Malin
Johanna Larsson	...	Sara
Elinor Johansson	...	Jenny
Jessica Melkersson	...	Sabina

Storyline

Åmål is a small insignificant town where nothing ever happens, where the latest trends are out of date when they get there. Young Elin has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to guys, but the fact is that she has never done *it*. Another girl in her school, Agnes, is in love with her but is too shy to do anything about it. For a number of reasons, Elin ends up at Agnes' birthday party as the only guest. They have a girl's night out together but after that Elin desperately avoids Agnes, refusing to even consider her own feelings toward Agnes.

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Plot Keywords:

love | birthday party | school | party | birthday | 

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Taglines:

Varför måste vi bo i fucking jävla kuk-Åmål?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Show Me Love

Filming Locations:

Film i Väst, Nohab Industrial Estate, Trollhättan, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$17,110 (USA) (15 October 1999)

Gross:

$168,761 (USA) (20 April 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Memfis Film, Det Danske Filminstitut, Film i Väst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original script ends with Agnes and Elin walking away holding hands. The final scene in the movie was thought up by the production lead and written by both Lukas Moodyson and Alexandra Dahlström, long after shooting had begun.

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Goofs

Supposedly takes place in Åmål, but large parts are obviously filmed in Trollhättan.

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Quotes

Jessica: It's the same with Markus. Although he's getting better now, in the beginning it was just... prrffft.

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Crazy Credits

Under "TACK TILL ALLA STATISTER", Sofia Wennberg is credited twice.

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Connections

Referenced in Henrik Schyffert: The 90's - Ett försvarstal (2009)

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Soundtracks

"FANTASY DREAM WORLD"
Stigsson / Rickstrand
Framförd av Cumbayah
Med tillstånd av BTS Music / Warner / Chappel Scand. AB / Warner Music Sweden

User Reviews

I have NEVER been affected by a movie like I have by this one

That scene in the car. That scene brought back every hope and dream I could remember as a 15 year old in love with a girl in my class I would never have. It was a validation of all those wonderful daydreams you had at that age and the hope that sprung from them. It was a moment that would send that pang in your heart to heights it's never known.

You're never in love like you are at that age - and when you watch a film like this where you can become so completely involved in the life and emotions of a girl like Agnes - and see her greatest hope realized after a day of humiliation and pain - your heart soars. In fact, I can't think of a moment in a movie that is as perfect as this one.

There's a universal quality to the feelings this film evokes that will pull in everyone who has a heart. I'm many years beyond high school - and of the opposite sex of the two protagonists in the film - and I still can't help but identify completely with this movie. Much of this has to do with the two actresses in the lead roles. Where did this director find these two phenomenal actresses? Rebecca Liljeberg has such a quiet and powerful range. Watching her react to other characters is one of the great pleasures of this film. Alexandra Dahlström takes a role that, in anyone else's hands would be either shallow or unbearable, and makes a character so complete, beautifully vulnerable and full of life you can understand why everyone loves her. These two girls - they are so wonderful, expressive and real you just want to hug them.

I saw this film when it came to New York, loved it then when i saw it once during what seemed like only a two week run, then recently remembered it and rented it. I have seen it 5 times since and I'm sure I'll see it many times more. It is a film that transcends gender, sexual orientation and age.

And for all you English language folks out there (I'm one of you), the subtitles will not be a drawback. In fact, watching this film in it's native language brings you even closer to these characters when you realize how familiar life is as a human being, no matter where we're from. How much we all have in common when it comes to matters of the heart. It's a nice little extra to be reminded of, since it's something we sometimes tend to forget.

My praise cannot be more genuine, heartfelt and complete. Get this film. Your day will be made by it. You'll be telling your friends about it. In a busy life where there's a lot of distraction, you'll remember for a moment how wonderful it is to be alive and in love - and how that's worth everything in the world.