Patrik, Age 1.5 (2008)

A Swedish gay couple adopt what they think is an 18-month-old orphan, only to meet their new son, a 15-year-old homophobic delinquent.

Director:

Ella Lemhagen

Writers:

Michael Druker (play), Ella Lemhagen

Stars:

Gustaf Skarsgård, Torkel Petersson, Tom Ljungman

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gustaf Skarsgård	...	Göran Skoogh
Torkel Petersson	...	Sven Skoogh
Tom Ljungman	...	Patrik Eriksson
Amanda Davin	...	Isabell
Annika Hallin	...	Eva
Jacob Ericksson	...	Lennart Ljung
Anette Sevreus	...	Louise Ljung
Mats Blomgren	...	Jan Åström
Malin Cederblad	...	Monika Åström (as Malin Cederbladh)
Antti Reini	...	Tommy Karlsson
Mirja Burlin	...	Carina Karlsson
Vilde Helmerson	...	Lillebror Karlsson
Patrik Rydmark	...	Storebror Karlsson / Big Brother
Anders Lönnbro	...	Urban Adler
Anna Wallander	...	Sister Irja

Storyline

Goran and Sven have been cleared for adoption and are given the option to adopt Swedish orphan "Patrik 1,5," but when Patrik arrives, he turns out not to be the little boy they were expecting. A comma was misplaced, and the boy they receive is a 15-year-old homophobe with a criminal past.

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Plot Keywords:

gay sex | gay | 15 year old | adoption | swedish | 

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Taglines:

No family could be happier!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief sexual content

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Patrik, Age 1.5

Filming Locations:

Uddevalla, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,724, 6 August 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$56,299, 17 October 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film i Väst,Sonet Film,Sveriges Television (SVT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first night Patrik stays in the house, he sneaks out of his locked room, and looks around the house. After playing Foosball, he picks up a book of drawings. The book is about the works of an iconic gay artist Touko Laaksonen, better known by his pseudonym Tom of Finland (8 May 1920 - 7 November 1991). Laaksonen was a Finnish artist most noted for his stylized all male erotic and fetish art and his influence on gay culture from the 1970s until the present. Many people believe that he was the most important creator of gay male erotic and semi-erotic art.

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Goofs

At 40:15 the kids leave the skate pipe, and the left skateboard is standing on its wheels. - When Patrik reaches the scene, the skateboard suddenly lies on its back.

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Quotes

[Patrik is leaving to stay with his new family]
Sven Skoogh: [to Patrik, who is wearing jeans and a t-shirt] Is that what you're wearing? You can't meet a civil engineer looking like that.

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Connections

References Blue Velvet (1986)

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Soundtracks

Layin'Road
Written by Markus Järvinen
Performed by The Kissin' Cousins

User Reviews

Should be called 'The Charm Of Gustaf Skarsgard'

I found this film to be a very satisfying experience, but then again, much of Swedish cinema has this effect upon me.

This is not so much a story about a gay couple attempting to adopt a baby boy (and being sent a surly, delinquent 15-year-old) as it is about family, relationships, fitting in, making compromises, and ultimately discovering that what you have may just be what you need.

Most of the movie takes place in a 'nice' suburban street, a kind of Stepford-meets-Pleasantville. Residents spend their spare time in the garden, socialising with others in the street, and being nice to one another. Enter a gay couple who are in the process of adopting a child. Not only does the neighbourhood have to adjust, but so do the couple themselves, and eventually the 'child' they adopt.

Gustaf Skarsgard carries this film almost single-handed. His character - Goran - is subtle, charming, patient and caring. He is the one who eventually forms a meaningful relationship with the 'son' who turns up at their door - wonderfully played by Tom Ljungman, who will be someone to keep an eye on in the future. It's hard to believe he was only 16 at the time of filming, as he creates a character in 3 dimensions.

I like people-movies, and this is definitely a people movie. It is not complicated or terribly deep, but it held my attention fully, and I was sorry when it ended.

Just one more comment........... There is a blue car which speeds down the street, and kids and dogs have to jump out of its way. This happens about 2-3 times throughout the course of the film, and is never explained. It reminded me of the motor cycle which sped through the town in 'Local Hero'; rather a nice touch, although not original.

9 stars.