Cornelis (2010)

Biographical account of singer and composer Cornelis Vreeswijk including his breakthrough and his marital problems.

Director:

Amir Chamdin

Writer:

Antonia Pyk

Stars:

Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, Malin Crépin, Helena Af Sandeberg

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby	...	Cornelis Vreeswijk
Malin Crépin	...	Ingalill Rehnberg
Helena Af Sandeberg	...	Bim Warne
David Dencik	...	Fred Åkerström
Johan Glans	...	Anders Burman
Frida Sjögren	...	Anita Strandell
Vera Vitali	...	Ann-Christin Wennerström
Pernilla Andersson	...	Ann-Louise Hansson
Frederik Nilsson	...	Warden
Mike Granditsky	...	Club Promoter
Axel Petersén	...	Berit
Ola Bergström	...	Björn J:son Lindh
Ruben Engzell	...	Bosse Häggström
Klas Ekman	...	Börje Ekberg
Ahmadu Jah	...	Congas Player at Theater

Storyline

Cornelis is the unique chronicle about one of Sweden's greatest music legends - Cornelis Vreeswijk. An honest and gripping account of an exceptionally talented, but self-destructive artist's intense life both on and behind the stage. A man who during his whole life was searching for love and confirmation.

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Plot Keywords:

singer songwriter | 1970s | 1960s | forename as title | 

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Taglines:

A man. A voice. A legend.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish Dutch

Release Date:

12 November 2010 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Medborgare, godafton!

Filming Locations:

Donostia-San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chamdin & Stöhr Filmproduktion, Film i Väst, Sonet Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cornelis' friend Hasse and hairdresser Sigge at Länkarna in the movie are played by themselves and were actual friends of the singer while he lived at Länkarna in Solna. The room were Cornelis is sleeping in was his actual room. N.B the room has no windows which was a special request of Cornelis.

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Connections

Features Black Palm Trees (1968)

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Soundtracks

Åkare Lundgrens Begravning
Written by Ruben Nilsson (as R. Nilsson)
Performed by Fred Åkerström
Warner Music Sweden AB

User Reviews

Cornelis, half of his life portrayed.

Being a Dutchman with a great interest in Sweden, plus a fan of Cornelis Vreeswijk, I was really looking forward to this motion picture. Many of Cornelis' songs helped me to gradually learn the Swedish language. First off, I have to compliment the casting bureau that managed to find Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby. A Norwegian singer from a genre rather remote from the one Cornelis sang in. Yet he puts on a magnificent performance.

The film follows the career steps of Vreeswijk in Sweden, from his breakthrough in 1964 alongside Fred Åkerström until his death in 1987. During the course of it, many of Cornelis' great songs can be heard. A sing-along for any fan. It also shows the two sides that Cornelis had in him. A great performer, fun guy to hang around with, a ladies man. But also a heavy drinker, an overly jealous husband and not the best of fathers to his son Jack. It presents you with a very honest picture of this troubadour that lived like a rock star. This pleads for the director and the script-writer.

The only weakness of this film is that it focuses solely on Sweden. Vreeswijks Dutch heritage is almost completely neglected. The only way any viewer unfamiliar with him would guess he's Dutch is from his last name and the first 5 minutes of the film. The director does ironically point out the fact that the Swedish state never officially recognized Vreeswijk as a Swedish citizen, and therefore never even became a Swede. In fact Cornelis had a decent career here in The Netherlands as well, where quite a few people still know his Dutch repertoire. He also regularly traveled abroad to perform in The Netherlands. Obviously this part of his life poses a practical issue, with a Norwegian actor portraying him. Yet Amir Chamdin could have made at least a couple of references to the Netherlands. He chooses not to; perhaps for financial or practical reasons. Sadly it's this loose end that makes this an incomplete, yet nice film about the life of Cornelis Vreeswijk.