Becoming Astrid (2018)

Biopic of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the author of numerous children's books and creator of Pippi Longstocking.

Director:

Pernille Fischer Christensen

Writers:

Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen

Stars:

Alba August, Maria Bonnevie, Trine Dyrholm

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alba August	...	Astrid
Maria Bonnevie	...	Hanna
Trine Dyrholm	...	Marie
Henrik Rafaelsen	...	Blomberg
Magnus Krepper	...	Samuel
Björn Gustafsson	...	Sture Lindgren
Marius Damslev	...	Lasse tre år
Willy Ramnek Petri	...	Gunnar
Liv LeMoyne	...	Saga
Sofia Karemyr	...	Madicken
Mira Mitchell	...	Berta
Maria Fahl-Vikander	...	Astrid 1987 (as Maria Fahl Vikander)
Maria Alm Norell	...	Olivia
Lars Väringer	...	KAK direktör
Eric Ericson	...	Läkare (as Eric Ericsson)

Storyline

Astrid Lindgren is shown growing up with her parents, a brother and two sisters in the countryside near Vimmerby Sweden on their farm, from age 16 up: going to church, attending dances, helping on the farm. She is offered an internship with the local newspaper after they published her essay. She has an affair with the unhappily married and older newspaper editor. When she becomes pregnant, he sends her to Stockholm for secretarial school. She gives birth in Denmark so as to help him avoid divorce complications. She ultimately decides not to marry him. She falls out with her family over her decision to keep her child and not leave him with his foster mother. She continues working as a secretary in Stockholm in an auto club and finally affords her own flat. When her boy finally comes to live with her, he is several years old. Finally in the end,, she reconciles with her family and they welcome their grandson home to visit.

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Plot Keywords:

coming of age | pregnancy | 1920s | 1930s | 1980s | 

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Taglines:

Be the author of your own story.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

As an in-joke, Astrid mentions "herr Karlsson" and "herr Nilsson" in one sentence on the phone while she is working as a secretary. This is a nod to Astrid Lindgrens books and the film series Karlsson on the Roof (1974) and Pippi Longstocking (1969).

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Goofs

After the dance scene at the beginning of the movie it is mentioned that Astrid is 16 years old, which would set the story into 1923/4. The song that the band is playing is "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", first released b Gene Austin in 1925.

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Quotes

Astrid: [screaming of joy] Good morning! Limonade!

User Reviews

Superfluous remake

This is not a bad film, and quite interesting in its own right. But I would recommend to see the original rather than this remake

But if you want a dramatised version and do not want to hear Astrid Lindgren's own pleasant voice, well then this dramatization is interesting, and add knowledge to what most people know about her - despite a few factual errors.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Sweden Denmark

Language:

Swedish Danish

Release Date:

14 September 2018 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Becoming Astrid

Filming Locations:

Västra Götaland, Sweden

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,361, 25 November 2018

Gross USA:

$120,486

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$962,653

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nordisk Film Production Sverige AB, Avanti Film, DCM Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1