Once in a Lifetime (2000)

Mona Bergström is a sweet Melodifestivalen-obsessed woman in her 30's. She is married to an unemployed man and they have 4 daughters, all named after her favorite Swedish Melodifestivalen ... See full summary »

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writer:

Jonas Gardell

Stars:

Helena Bergström, Jonas Karlsson, Thomas Hanzon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helena Bergström	...	Mona
Jonas Karlsson	...	David
Thomas Hanzon	...	Bosse
Björn Kjellman	...	Candy Darling
Johan Ulveson	...	Producer
Regina Lund	...	Sabina
Lisa Olsen	...	Kikki
Jessica Andersson	...	Carola
Amanda Rasmuson	...	Lena Ph
Sandra Kassman	...	Anna Book
Katarina Ewerlöf	...	Studio Hostess
Sissela Kyle	...	Employment Agency Worker
Leif Andrée	...	Man in the Subway Speaking with Mona
Ia Langhammer	...	Waitress
Jessica Zandén	...	Mother at Cafeteria

Storyline

Mona Bergström is a sweet Melodifestivalen-obsessed woman in her 30's. She is married to an unemployed man and they have 4 daughters, all named after her favorite Swedish Melodifestivalen popstars. Her sister is a trans woman with AIDS self-titled "Candy". Mona works on a retirement home for disabled people, where she is responsible for taking care of a young man named David who suffers a cerebral palsy that forces him into a wheelchair. Mona holds a big place in Davids heart, and vice versa. David wants to have a normal job despite his handicap, therefore he works making music on his computer, and his goal is to create a song and send it to "The Cardigans", a famous Swedish band. Mona decides to write the lyrics and sing the demo. She is convinced that the song is great and her family should hear it, but David doesn't want until it's perfect. Mona grabs the CD anyway and shows it to her family. Her sister loves it and urges her to send it to the Melodifestivalen, the most important ...

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Plot Keywords:

personal assistant | cerebral palsy | brother sister relationship | nurse | transvestite | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Carola Häggkvist, Lena Philipsson, Jean-Pierre Barda and other celebrities all appear as themselves.

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Quotes

Mona: [after a bad rehersal] Oh my god, that was just horrible!
Bosse: Oh come on, it wasn't that bad!
Mona: No it was horrible!
Bosse: Come on honey! I think it was quite OK
Mona: Well who the hell cares what do YOU think?!
[goes off]

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Connections

Features Zero Tolerance (1999)

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Soundtracks

Aldrig ska jag sluta älska dig
Music by Jesper Winge Leisner
Lyrics by Jonas Gardell
Performed by Helena Bergström

User Reviews

A must-see for all fans of the Eurovision Song Contest

As a big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest I knew I had to see this movie the moment I saw the trailer. It revolves around Mona, a not very glamorous woman, working with the handicapped David. Mona, played by the multi-talented Helena Bergström, is also a huge fan of the ESC and has named her four daughters after stars from the contest. This film is a great vehicle for Bergström, whom you may know from films such as Änglegård I and II, but both Jonas Karlson as David and Björn Kjellman as Mona's brother Candy Darling, offer strong support and, at moments steel their scenes. Actually Karlson's and Kjellman's only scene together is the film's strongest point. Inevitably there is a lot of music, some a bit cheesy and bad.

This movie has several beautiful aspects, and touches many of the problems we face every day, the importance of keeping your dreams alive in order to survive, and at the end of the day: How important it is not to loose sight of your friends and family in the process!

Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

10 November 2000 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Hånden på hjertet

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$108,557

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nordisk Film, SVT Drama

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color