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IMDbPro

My Life as a Dog

Original title: Mitt liv som hund
  • 1985
  • Unrated
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Anton Glanzelius in My Life as a Dog (1985)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for My Life as a Dog
Play trailer1:31
14 Videos
88 Photos
DramaComedy

In the late '50s, young Ingemar is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle. There he meets a town of eccentrics, and learns about love, sexual desire - and himself.In the late '50s, young Ingemar is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle. There he meets a town of eccentrics, and learns about love, sexual desire - and himself.In the late '50s, young Ingemar is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle. There he meets a town of eccentrics, and learns about love, sexual desire - and himself.

  • Director
    • Lasse Hallström
  • Writers
    • Reidar Jönsson
    • Lasse Hallström
    • Brasse Brännström
  • Stars
    • Anton Glanzelius
    • Tomas von Brömssen
    • Anki Lidén
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lasse Hallström
    • Writers
      • Reidar Jönsson
      • Lasse Hallström
      • Brasse Brännström
    • Stars
      • Anton Glanzelius
      • Tomas von Brömssen
      • Anki Lidén
    • 72User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 15 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos14

    My Life as a Dog: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:31
    Watch My Life as a Dog: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    My Life As A Dog: Where I Live
    Clip 1:00
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Where I Live
    My Life As A Dog: Train Ride
    Clip 0:25
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Train Ride
    My Life As A Dog: Wish You Weren't Going
    Clip 0:51
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Wish You Weren't Going
    My Life As A Dog: Her Room
    Clip 2:01
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Her Room
    My Life As A Dog: Snowball
    Clip 1:28
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Snowball
    My Life As A Dog: Be The Ball
    Clip 0:26
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Be The Ball
    My Life As A Dog: Stories To Tell
    Clip 1:33
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Stories To Tell
    My Life As A Dog: Painting
    Clip 1:21
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Painting
    My Life As A Dog: Doctor Visits
    Clip 0:57
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Doctor Visits
    My Life As A Dog: You Win
    Clip 1:39
    Watch My Life As A Dog: You Win
    My Life As A Dog: Catch The Dishes
    Clip 0:57
    Watch My Life As A Dog: Catch The Dishes

    Photos88

    Anton Glanzelius, Jan-Philip Hollström, and Melinda Kinnaman in My Life as a Dog (1985)
    Anton Glanzelius and Tomas von Brömssen in My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    Anton Glanzelius in My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)
    Anki Lidén in My Life as a Dog (1985)
    My Life as a Dog (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anton Glanzelius
    Anton Glanzelius
    • Ingemar
    Tomas von Brömssen
    Tomas von Brömssen
    • Gunnar, Ingemars morbror
    Anki Lidén
    Anki Lidén
    • Ingemars mamma
    • (as Anki Liden)
    Melinda Kinnaman
    Melinda Kinnaman
    • Saga
    Kicki Rundgren
    • Ulla, Gunnars fru
    Lennart Hjulström
    Lennart Hjulström
    • Konstnären
    Ing-Marie Carlsson
    Ing-Marie Carlsson
    • Berit
    • (as Ing-Mari Carlsson)
    Leif Ericson
    • Farbror Sandberg
    • (as Leif Ericsson)
    Christina Carlwind
    Christina Carlwind
    • Fru Sandberg
    Ralph Carlsson
    Ralph Carlsson
    • Harry
    Viveca Dahlén
    • Tanten i tvättstugan
    Arnold Alfredsson
    • Mannes farfar
    • (as Arnold Alfredson)
    Fritz Elofsson
    • Mäster på glasbruket
    Didrik Gustafsson
    • Farbror Arvidsson, Ullas far
    • (as Didrik Gustavsson)
    Jan-Philip Hollström
    Jan-Philip Hollström
    • Manne, den grönhårige pojken
    Vivi Johansson
    • Tant Arvidsson, Ullas mor
    Per Ottosson
    • Tommy
    Magnus Rask
    • Fransson, mannen på taket
    • Director
      • Lasse Hallström
    • Writers
      • Reidar Jönsson
      • Lasse Hallström
      • Brasse Brännström
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s favorite film, as he writes in his book, Timequake.
    • Goofs
      A part of the helicopter can be seen while Ingmar is sitting on the train down to his uncle for the second time
    • Quotes

      Ingemar: In fact, I've been kinda lucky. I mean, compared to others. You have to compare, so you can get a little distance from things. Like Laika. She really must have seen things in perspective. It's important to keep a certain distance. I think about that guy who tried to set a world record for jumping over buses with a motorcycle. He lined up 31 buses. If he'd left it at 30, maybe he would have survived.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Cider House Rules: The Making of an American Classic (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Far, jag kan inte få upp min kokosnöt
      (original song title "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts")

      Written by Fred Heatherton (joint pseudonym of Elton Box, Desmond Cox and Irwin Dash) (uncredited)

      Swedish lyrics by Povel Ramel

      Performed by Povel Ramel (uncredited)

    User reviews72

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A really great coming of age film
    In 1950s Sweden a 12 year old boy Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius) is sent to live with relatives. His father is away and his mother is slowly dying of some unnamed disease (I think it's tuberculosis) and can't handle him (he's VERY mischievous and always getting in trouble). With his relatives he grows up and learns how to deal with life, love, feelings of abandonment, sex etc etc.

    Sounds pretty obvious but it isn't. This film is beautifully directed by Lasse Hallstrom and perfectly captures what it's like to be a young boy growing up. That it takes place in 1950s Sweden makes no difference--all young boys go through the feelings and emotions shown in this movie. Some posters have complained about a (brief) instance of a topless young girl. Well--like it or not, kids that age DO think about sex and do "explore" their feelings with other kids. I actually think it's great that this film didn't shy away from that subject. Glanzelius is just great in the role and has a VERY expressive face (some of the looks he gives are fascinating and hilarious too). An excellent film.

    This was a surprise hit in the US in 1985. It was so big Glanzelius actually toured the country with his parents to promote the movie. I remember seeing it in 1985 and loving it--it still holds up. A must-see.
    helpful•72
    10
    • preppy-3
    • Nov 18, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Sweden
    • Language
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Mein Leben als Hund
    • Filming locations
      • Boda glassworks, Kalmar län, Sweden
    • Production companies
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
      • FilmTeknik
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,345,266
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,667
      • May 3, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,349,284
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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