Everlasting Moments (2008)

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 8 wins & 14 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 | alcoholic | 1900s | contessa camera | 

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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:

8 April 2010 (Germany)

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, Filmpool Nord, Final Cut Productions

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 (2009).

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Connections

Features Easy Street (1917)

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Soundtracks

Internationalen
Music by Pierre Degeyter

User Reviews

Piff, Paff, Puff

Greetings again from the darkness. The best word I can come up to describe this fine film is humanistic. Everything about director Jan Troell's (The Emigrants) approach is based on the affect or reaction of the individual, very human, characters.

Maria Heiskanen as Maria Larsson is fascinating ... in the most grounded, heartfelt style I have seen. She reminds of Imelda Staunton in her ability to sell grace and dignity despite all obstacles. This is not a film about some character's ability to make headlines. Rather it is one woman's battle for independence for herself and stability and safety for her seven children.

We may question why Maria insists on remaining with her violent-when-drunk husband, but she takes her father's counsel to honor her vows very seriously. She battles through much for her family but the true joy in the story comes from her awakening with a Contessa camera, courtesy of Sebastian Pederson (played well by Jesper Christensen). She discovers a god given talent and eye for photography.

This is a long film, but so realistically presented that it just compels the viewer to join in. Sadly, it won't find much of an audience in the U.S., but it is excellent film-making and a very rewarding journey.