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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Swedish ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Behind the scenes, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: In a series of remarkable events inspired by a true story, Maria Heiskanen stars as Maria Larsson, a Finnish mother and housewife who devotes all of her attention, care, and consideration to the well-being of her family -- but, like many homemakers, does so at the expense of her own identity and self-awareness. Not that her dockworker husband, Sigge (Mikael Persbrandt), particularly deserves such consideration; a brutish, alcoholic lout, his evenings consist of making life hell for Maria and their daughter with tyrannical, abusive behaviour. Then, as the dockworkers go on strike and the family's economic situation plummets, a ray of hope appears, in the form of a Contessa camera won in a local lottery. Unsurprisingly, Maria at first attempts to pawn it to reel in extra monies, but store owner Sebastian Pedersen convinces her otherwise; he teaches her how to use it, and she begins taking gorgeous, haunting photographs with the unaffected, instinctive perceptions of a young child. As the woman's self-discovery builds and her identity takes on form and definition, Sebastian unofficially takes her on as a protégée and quietly witnesses romantic feelings for her building inside of him. Meanwhile, Sigge's life falls to pieces when the authorities connect him with the catastrophic explosion of a British vessel. Maria's daughter, Maja (Callin Ohrvall), narrates. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Golden Globes, ...Everlasting Moments ( Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick ) ( Die ewigen Augenblicke der Maria Larsson )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This film was quite unexpectedly beautiful, superbly written and executed, my first Swedish film. The film looks like it's been filmed in Sepia which suits the mood and era of the time. The film is about a woman who endures physical abuse from her hard drinking husband, but she's determined to stay for the sake of her many children. She finds herself in financial difficulty and decides to sell a camera, but she is convinced to keep it, and so her journey with the camera begins, and it is a beautiful one.....I don't want to ruin the storyline by telling you all about it, but it is based on a true story and one that is credible.
A lovely moving film and one that I have watched more than once since purchasing it. English Sub-titles so anyone can watch. I would definitely recommend this film.
A lovely moving film and one that I have watched more than once since purchasing it. English Sub-titles so anyone can watch. I would definitely recommend this film.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I watched this period film as I enjoy seeing another country's perspective and photography. In this case a Swedish production and I wasn't disappointed. The film takes one into the world of real hardship, a family whose father is an alcoholic, he is pleasant when sober and completely mad when he drinks. The wife the main character of the story endures her husband's hopeless role as a father, his beatings and continually loosing his job. She scrubs floors and is constantly pregnant, but somehow she rises above it all. Early in the story she wins a camera in a raffle and as she desparately needs money she takes her camera into a photographic shop to find out what it is worth. The owner takes a shine to her, as she shows a natural fascination in the wonder of taking photographs, and encourages her to keep the camera and gives her the plates and shows her how to develop her pictures. The story is gentle but totally absorbing, one is always wondering will she leave the violent husband or be killed in one of his rages. The art of photography is the only thing keeping her sane and her complete dedication to raising her family of countless children.
The only reason I didn't give this film five stars is because the subtitles where too small to read very easily, such a pity.
The only reason I didn't give this film five stars is because the subtitles where too small to read very easily, such a pity.
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There's something almost too clean and perfect about Jan Troell's depiction of life in Sweden in the early 1900s. The film depicts the poverty and the troubles of one ordinary working class family, a family whose struggle to get by isn't helped by a violent father, a dock worker and labourer, whose drinking binges gradually come to terrorise the family, while his carrying-on with barmaids bring down the family name. Seen through the eyes of their daughter Maja Larsson, it's almost as if the worst horrors are kept private, the film's tasteful lighting, sepia tints and sensitive piano score from Matti Bye only adding to the impression of a somewhat idealised depiction of events that really aren't that pleasant at all.
In the end however, and even throughout, the strength of the film is indeed in its subtlety, in its refusal to appeal to the viewer's sentiments in regard to poverty and brutality of an underprivileged upbringing, and instead focus on the positive aspects of family togetherness and their attempts to rise above their troubles. In narrative terms, it's done with great sensitivity and subtlety through the device of the mother Maria Larsson's discovery of the miracle and beauty of photography and a deep friendship that she strikes up with the owner of a photography shop - two events that help her create for herself a life of her own.
The real strength however is in the performances that get to the heart of the characters and the times they live in. All of them are exceptional, but particularly from Maria Heiskanen, who delicately captures the nuances of a remarkable range of emotions that her character must undergo, all of them suppressed by the need for propriety, for her inability to understand the emotions that arise within her, and simply from a strict upbringing that doesn't allow their expression - but woe betide the person who takes that surface impassivity for weakness.
The gorgeous cinematography, the film's wonderful lighting and colour tints come across exceptionally well on the UK DVD release. Only fixed subtitles which are very small indeed spoil the overall impression. Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 audio mixes are available. Extra include a Photo Gallery and a half-hour making of feature Troell Behind The Camera, which looks at the original true story that the film is based on with some of Maria Larsson's original photographs.
In the end however, and even throughout, the strength of the film is indeed in its subtlety, in its refusal to appeal to the viewer's sentiments in regard to poverty and brutality of an underprivileged upbringing, and instead focus on the positive aspects of family togetherness and their attempts to rise above their troubles. In narrative terms, it's done with great sensitivity and subtlety through the device of the mother Maria Larsson's discovery of the miracle and beauty of photography and a deep friendship that she strikes up with the owner of a photography shop - two events that help her create for herself a life of her own.
The real strength however is in the performances that get to the heart of the characters and the times they live in. All of them are exceptional, but particularly from Maria Heiskanen, who delicately captures the nuances of a remarkable range of emotions that her character must undergo, all of them suppressed by the need for propriety, for her inability to understand the emotions that arise within her, and simply from a strict upbringing that doesn't allow their expression - but woe betide the person who takes that surface impassivity for weakness.
The gorgeous cinematography, the film's wonderful lighting and colour tints come across exceptionally well on the UK DVD release. Only fixed subtitles which are very small indeed spoil the overall impression. Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 audio mixes are available. Extra include a Photo Gallery and a half-hour making of feature Troell Behind The Camera, which looks at the original true story that the film is based on with some of Maria Larsson's original photographs.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gorgeous
One of those slow, languid films in which nothing major happens but is a thoroughly uplifting story. Very nice, beautifully filmed and acted, loved it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Clark
Not entirely convincing.
Given the scope and relevance of the main theme I have too say that this piece of work, however worthy, somehow falls short. Read more
Published 12 months ago by F. Proud
Heartwarming
Having watched the Wallander films, read the books by Stieg Larsson and seen the films, I chose Everlasting Moments because it sounded interesting. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jeannie
Good cinematography, but depressing and over-long
Having read so many favourable reviews, I tried very hard indeed to like this film, but soon realised that it was not for me. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Triestino
Everlasting Moments video
A superb, evocative video of times not so distant. The sets and the photography are outstanding. All the characters are played to perfection. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. W. Duff
A heartbreaking life has come alive in this remarkable film.
This is absolutely non Hollywood, this is the raw deal, the real thing and a masterfully made film which takes you back to real life, hard labor and hard times for poor people and... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Isabella Balkert
Great film, poor subtitles
At one level this is a film about a poor, working class wooman finding a survival mechanism in photography. Read more
Published on 27 April 2010 by A. Ginman
Sub-title disaster
The sub-titling was of a very poor quality and seriously detracted from, otherwise,a very enjoyable film.
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by Mr. D. O'GORMAN
Terrific Film From Veteran Jan Troell
Sweden,Early 20th century.A loving mother Maria Larsson(Maria Heiskanen) and put upon wife finds comfort and stimulation in a long forgotten camera won many years before in a... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2010 by Mark Pearce
Good film
I didn't realise that this film was not in English, had subtitles. However it was interesting.
Published on 22 Nov 2009 by Myra Potter
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