Everlasting Moments (2008)
"Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick" (original title)

In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her whole life.

Director:

Jan Troell

Writers:

Niklas Rådström (screenplay), Jan Troell (story),

Stars:

Maria Heiskanen, Mikael Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maria Heiskanen	...	Maria Larsson
Mikael Persbrandt	...	Sigfrid Larsson
Jesper Christensen	...	Sebastian Pedersen
Callin Öhrvall	...	Maja Larsson (age 15-22)
Nellie Almgren	...	Maja Larsson (age 8-10)
Birte Heribertsson	...	Maja Larsson (narration) / Aunt Tora
Ghita Nørby	...	Miss Fagerdal
Amanda Ooms	...	Matilda
Emil Jensen	...	Englund
Claire Wikholm	...	Grandmother Karna
Ann Petrén	...	Ida
Antti Reini	...	Finnish Sea Captain
Annika Lundgren	...	Miss Öst
Maria Lundqvist	...	Miss Petrén
Hans Henrik Clemensen	...	Mr. Fagerdal

Storyline

Sweden, early 1900s - an era of social change and unrest, war and poverty. A young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The camera grants her the eyes to view the world, and empowers her over several decades to raise and nurture her family of six children and an alcoholic, womanizing and sometimes violent, although ultimately loving, husband.

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Plot Keywords:

camera | working class | 1900s | alcoholic | alcoholic father | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark Norway Finland Germany

Language:

Swedish Finnish

Release Date:

24 September 2008 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Everlasting Moments

Filming Locations:

Luleå, Norrbottens län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

€4,773,906 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$40,443 (USA) (6 March 2009)

Gross:

$606,126 (USA) (19 June 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blind Spot Pictures Oy, Final Cut Productions, Göta Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 106 min (short)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sweden's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the The 81st Annual Academy Awards.

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Connections

Features Easy Street (1917)

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Soundtracks

"After the Ball"
from the musical "A Trip to Chinatown"
Music by Charles Harris
Played by orchestra at picnic

User Reviews

I Remember Mama: Swedish style

I recently saw this at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival and it would be among my favorites of this years festival. Everlasting moments was Sweden's official entry for the 81st Academy Awards and although not nominated it did make the short list of nine and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Set in the port city of Malmo in Southern Sweden beginning in the year 1907 it tells the story of Maria Larsson (Maria Heiskanen) and her hard working dock worker husband Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt) who is abusive to Maria and battles the bottle and infidelity issues. Maria is a Finnish immigrant married to the Swedish Sigfrid and they have a rocky marriage but Sigfrid is a good provider when sober and they start a large family. Maria once won a camera in a lottery and is considering selling it when the Danish owner of a photography shop, Jesper (Sabastian Pederson) convinces her to use the camera and become an amateur photographer. It begins a long friendship between Jesper and Maria much to the chagrin of Sigfrid. The story is told in narrative by the Larsson's daughter Maja (Callin Ohrvall) as she remembers the hardships of life in early 20th century Sweden and the strengths of her mother that kept the family together. It's kind of reminiscent of the 40's film classic I Remember Mama. A wonderful story based on the remembrances of a real life Maja who lived from 1902 to 1991. From veteran director Jan Troell its a beautiful period piece with wonderful cinematography by Mischa Gaurjusjov and Troell himself. The attention to detail in reproducing the times is amazing from set designer Peter Bauman and costume designer Karen Gram. I would give this a 9.5 out of 10 and recommend it.