False as Water (1985)

John and Carl have a small publishing company. One day John meets the poet Clara who recently made her debut, and Clara's fiancé Stig. John and Clara fall in love with each other, and she ... See full summary »

Director:

Hans Alfredson

Writer:

Hans Alfredson (screenplay)

Stars:

Malin Ek, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Marie Göranzon

3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Malin Ek	...	Clara
Sverre Anker Ousdal	...	John
Marie Göranzon	...	Anna (as Mari Göranzon)
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Stig
Örjan Ramberg	...	Carl
Lotta Ramel	...	Fia
Philip Zandén	...	Jens (as Philip Zanden)
Catharina Alinder	...	Tina
Martin Lindström	...	Lill-John
Magnus Uggla	...	Schüll
Folke Lind	...	Gubben
Ing-Marie Carlsson	...	Göteborgskan
Gunilla Olsson	...	Nya hyresgästen (as Gunilla Ohlsson)
Jan Wirén	...	Läkaren (as Jan Wiren)

Storyline

John and Carl have a small publishing company. One day John meets the poet Clara who recently made her debut, and Clara's fiancé Stig. John and Clara fall in love with each other, and she moves into an apartment owned by John. John breaks up with his wife and moves in with Clara. But Clara has a nervous breakdown.

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Plot Keywords:

bathtub | title based on shakespeare | screenplay adapted by author | love | poet | 

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Taglines:

En film om svartsjuka och död av Hans Alfredson (A film about jealousy and death by Hans Alfredson)

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

The cast credits are followed by "Och dessutom som sig själva några ur den kulturella eliten." (And also as themselves some people from the cultural elite.)

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Connections

References Straw Dogs (1971)

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Soundtracks

Gaite Parisienne
Written by Jacques Offenbach
Decca 411 708-1

User Reviews

Well made eighties thriller

False as water (Falsk som vatten) is a well made period drama thriller by Swedish film maker Hans Alfredsson, which is a notable director in Swedish film industry.

A publisher, which is quite a womaniser, is having affairs, and his wife and kids are aware of it, though they don't know much more. Still the tone of the dialog between the married couple are hostile and suspicious. A new female writing star is to be published, but together with her follows a nasty cheeky bloke which tend to be both rude and a drunk. The dialog between this couple as well, and this relationship seems almost threatening in itself. It's obvious that this is a start of a new affair between the publisher and the writer, which he installs in a spare apartment in a building with strange inhabitants. This is the start, which easily draws up a premise for both jealousy as well as hatred.

As all film by Alfredsson, the film language is unsophisticated and up front, without any fix ideas. The camera is sometimes the observer, when not engaged in the dialog. Scandinavian realism as he does well in his films. The camera also acts as a stalker and the feeling that someone is watching, adds to the suspense. Film music is well suited, and functions. The film gives a great 80's glimpse of Sweden, as well.

The title refers to a part of the dialog, where talk about fresh and clear water is both phony and false, and said as a meaningless chit-chat.

I found the up-building intriguing as interesting. You sense that there's something lingering in the air, that drives the interest. After a while the film changes to a "Fatal attraction"-like story. The comparison is quite obvious.

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

8 November 1985 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

False as Water

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svenska Ord, Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1