Happy End (2011)

A fairytale for adults. Its about five people with an important liaison to one another. The characters are all avoiding being truthful about the realities of their lives and waiting for ... See full summary »

Director:

Björn Runge

Writer:

Kim Fupz Aakeson

Stars:

Ann Petrén, Malin Buska, Gustaf Skarsgård

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ann Petrén	...	Jonna
Malin Buska	...	Katrine
Gustaf Skarsgård	...	Peter
Johan Widerberg	...	Asger
Peter Andersson	...	Mårten
Mariah Kanninen	...	Hanne
David Dencik	...	Richard
Fredric Gildea	...	Zidan
Hanna Malmberg	...	Nina
Anna Azcarate	...	Kvinnlig psykolog
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stefan Cronwall	...	Trafikskolelärare

Storyline

A fairytale for adults. Its about five people with an important liaison to one another. The characters are all avoiding being truthful about the realities of their lives and waiting for some miracle to happen. Instead of optimistically continuing their efforts they find asylum in lies and falsities. The name suits the plot as all the main characters are wishing a Happy End of their existing problems while not doing much practically to improve their Present. This movie is 3rd in sequence of Björn Runge's Trilogy of Liberation. Earlier 2 movies are "Daybreak" and "Mouth to Mouth" respectively. And the main idea behind all these 3 movies is to portray the lives of people who are trying to liberate themselves from destruction.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

23 September 2011 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Eftyhismeno telos

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film i Väst, Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI), Trollhättan Film AB

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

"Humane and intimate character piece..."

Swedish screenwriter and director Björn Runge's fifth feature film which was written by Danish screenwriter Kim Fupz Aakeson, was screened in the Official Selection at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2011 and is the third part of the director's trilogy of liberation which was preceded by "Daybreak" (2003) and "Mouth to Mouth" (2005). It was shot on location in Trollhättan, Vänersborg and Gothenburg in Sweden and is a Swedish-Danish co-production which was produced by Swedish producers Martin Persson and Madeleine Ekman. It tells the story about Jonna, a middle-aged driving teacher who one day learns that her son Peter, a painter who lives with his girlfriend, has been hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Jonna does whatever she can to be there for her son and when Peter's girlfriend leaves him she let's him move in with her, but as Jonna becomes more aware of her son's troubles she begins to doubt that her care is what he needs and secretly hires a young woman named Katrine to encourage him.

Distinctly and precisely directed by Swedish filmmaker Björn Runge, this dense drama which is centred around the lives of five characters, draws a gripping portrayal of a struggling painter's relationship with his caring mother and a young woman's afflicting relationship with her demeaning and abusive boyfriend. While notable for it's naturalistic urban milieu depictions, fine editing by Swedish film editor Lena Dahlberg, prominent production design by Danish production designer Jette Lehman and cinematography by Swedish cinematographer Ulf Brantås and the poignant use of colors which expresses the mental and emotional states of the characters, this dialog-driven story about family relations, grief, loneliness, love, betrayal and interpersonal communication, contains some fine music by Swedish actress and singer Ebba Forsberg.

This somewhat romantic, darkly humorous and atmospheric film which is narrated from various points of view and depicts multiple studies of character, is impelled by it's narrative structure and the fine acting performances by Swedish actress Ann Petrén, Swedish actress Malin Buska in her first feature film role and Swedish actors Gustav Skarsgård, Johan Wideberg and Peter Andersson. Though not as memorable as the previous films in the trilogy, this at times heartrending and finely tuned tale has some stellar moments. A humane and intimate character piece which gained the Jury Prize for Best Cinematography Ulf Brantås at the 59th San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2011.