As It Is in Heaven (2004)
"Så som i himmelen" (original title)

A successful international conductor suddenly interrupts his career and returns alone to his childhood village in Norrland, in the far north of Sweden.It doesn't take long before he is ... See full summary »

Director:

Kay Pollak

Writers:

Anders Nyberg, Ola Olsson,

Stars:

Michael Nyqvist, Frida Hallgren, Helen Sjöholm

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Nyqvist	...	Daniel Daréus
Frida Hallgren	...	Lena
Helen Sjöholm	...	Gabriella
Lennart Jähkel	...	Arne
Ingela Olsson	...	Inger
Niklas Falk	...	Stig
Per Morberg	...	Conny
Ylva Lööf	...	Siv
André Sjöberg	...	Tore
Mikael Rahm	...	Holmfrid
Barbro Kollberg	...	Olga
Axelle Axell	...	Florence
Lasse Petterson	...	Erik
Ulla-Britt Norrman-Olsson	...	Amanda (as Ulla-Britt Norrman)
Nils-Anders Vallgårda	...	Gordon, Gabriella's Son

Storyline

A successful international conductor suddenly interrupts his career and returns alone to his childhood village in Norrland, in the far north of Sweden.It doesn't take long before he is asked to come and listen to the fragment of a church choir, which practises every Thursday in the parish hall. Just come along and give a little bit of good advice. He can't say no, and from that moment, nothing in the village is the same again. The choir develops and grows. He makes both friends and enemies. And he finds love.

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Plot Keywords:

choir | conductor | school | church | church choir | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes, inspiration is where you least expect it . . .

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark

Language:

Swedish English Italian

Release Date:

3 September 2004 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

As It Is in Heaven

Filming Locations:

Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,402 (USA) (2 May 2008)

Gross:

$10,236 (USA) (30 May 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sonet Film AB, GF Studios AB, Lefwander Kapitalförvaltning AB

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In spite of being the most beloved Swedish film for several years it did not receive a single Golden Beetle, the most prestigious Swedish film award.

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Quotes

Gabriella: [singing] I want to feel that I have lived my life.

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Connections

Referenced in Molanders: Den nya sponsorn (2013)

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Soundtracks

"Pianotrio Opus 100"
Written by Franz Schubert (as Frans Schubert)
Courtesy of Naxos Sweden

User Reviews

Wonderful, inspiring film that touches important themes

I really loved this movie and so did the audience that I saw it with in Los Angeles. After the film, lots of people were crying and saying how much the film had affected them. I can see why it was such a huge hit in its homeland, Sweden. The film is masterfully directed and each character brilliantly drawn so that by the end you really know these people and care about them. The music is very natural and the main song in the film quite heartbreaking but inspiring. Would definitely recommend this film for everyone to see - even people who don't normally go to subtitled films. Definitely deserved the Oscar Nomination because of the profound themes of the film reflected without pretension in a small-town community with everyday people. It is a film that unites us in this divided world and shows us the potential of the human spirit. A MUST SEE!