Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
Full of snow, sex, Volvos and ABBA, Together may at first appear to be a trawl through every Swedish cliché in the book, but is in fact a delightful, absorbing movie. Set in Stockholm in the winter of 1975 it tells of mother of two Elisabeth and her move away from abusive husband Rolf to the strange new world of her brother's commune, the "Together" of the title. Set almost entirely within the house, the action is slight and the plot development limited but the various characters are so strong that that languid nature of the film is a blessing rather than a curse. The humour ranges from the gentle to the bawdy, with the alternative lifestyle of the housemates prone to some gentle but affectionate lampooning. As the two worlds collide, the effect on all parties is clear--not least Elisabeth's two children, her violent partner and her relaxed brother Göran--and the simple final scene brings the piece to a joyous crescendo.
On the DVD: Presented in a quirky manner in keeping with the film's art house origins, the interactive menu offers scene access, the cinematic trailer and a text interview with director Lukas Moodysson. The Dolby digital sound enhances the soundtrack no end, particularly ABBA's splendid "SOS", given a new, more poignant slant by its use in the film. --Phil Udell
Product Description
1975, Sweden. Tired of her abusive husband, Elisabeth packs her bags and moves with her children to her brother's commune, 'Together'. As a fairly ordinary housewife from the suburbs, the commune's freewheeling attitudes towards sex and politics will open Elisabeth's eyes and change her family's life forever. Together is a film about people trying to live together. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It's about love and divorce and happiness and unhappiness and children and adults and ABBA and sex and football
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Together is one of those films that you will not forget. A Swedish film centred on the experiences of the fictional 'Together' collective in the 70s, it follows the trials and tribulations of a group of people who live together because they believe in the value of community. The story is bitter-sweet; it begins with a family break-up and ends in a football match, but inbetween lies the struggle of a community to adapt to change without forgetting what is really important. Exploring some of the fundamental problems of living in a community of individuals with strong (and often varying) beliefs about how to live a better life, the collective tackles such burning issues as whether to eat meat, own a television, go naked in the kitchen or practise open relationships. And the film doesn't shy away from tough issues either; lesbianism, homosexuality, domestic violence, alcoholism, loneliness, men who dress like women, children who pretend to be Pinochet: the film has all this and more.
Beautifully acted, the film has some genuinely funny laugh-out-loud moments, combined with an almost unbearable poignancy.
I think that the overall message of this film is that women, men, and children, living together in a community is a struggle, but that it's worth it; and that fixed ideals must sometimes give way to pragmatism, but this can be a good thing. While the word utopia is never mentioned, this is what the collective is aiming for in their creation of a community that aims for something aspirational and inspirational; ultimately, they dreamed of a better way of life, and then they set out to create it. While their journey is never easy, and not all of the collective survives within the community, the group remains strong, providing a sense of 'home' that is so poweful you can almost feel it emanating from the screen. And for those who leave, there is a place for them elsewhere, in a community that provides a better fit for their values and beliefs. Sounds like utopia to me.
All this and Abba too?! Watch this film - it's magic. The characters will remain with you forever, and I defy you not to be moved by the final scene.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
It's an ageing hippie commune which doesn't really work, in this film. They are all nice people, quirky, sensitive, and in some cases kindly, but day-to-day life often fires on few cylinders.
What changes things is the presence of a battered wife,whose husband genuinely loves her and hates what he has done, and the children, who view the adults silently but maturely. It is very funny in places and moves, in stuttering stages, towards a warm, very happy conclusion. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone.
What changes things is the presence of a battered wife,whose husband genuinely loves her and hates what he has done, and the children, who view the adults silently but maturely. It is very funny in places and moves, in stuttering stages, towards a warm, very happy conclusion. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Mia
Format:DVD
I grew up in Sweden in the 70's, and can attest to this film being *very* realistic. Well, most of us grew up in regular family households rather than communes like this one - yet the tone, dialogue, props, setting, mood, and plot - all hit the mark exactly. Moodysson is a genius to be able to tell a whole generation's painful rite of passage with such a sense of hilarity and warmth.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 33 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't believe all the hype.
I was really looking forward to this film but I was left cold. I think I laughed once if that. Characters are unfortunately one dimensional and nothing really seems to... Read more
Published 19 days ago by G. J. Brimson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Moodysson that you can watch over and again...(& again)
When I bought my Lukas Moodysson 4 disc boxset, this being the second DVD in it, little did I realise that I had in fact seen Together many years before and many parts had lodged... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tim Kidner
4.0 out of 5 stars
very funny film
Together makes me nostalgic for the now defunct Metro cinema in London, whereas the film itself is nostalgic for a whole decade, namely the 70s. Read more
Published 12 months ago by schumann_bg
5.0 out of 5 stars
a great uplifting film
Elisabeth leaves her drunken violent husband [ excellently played by Michael Nyquist of Dragon tattoo]and takes her children to a commune . Read more
Published 13 months ago by cartoon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable and entertaining.
The year is 1975 and a group of ageing hippies are still trying to live the utopian communal dream. Unfortunately when you place such diverse people into a single living space, you... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Kurt Clare
4.0 out of 5 stars
A humorous film about commuity life in Sweden in the 70's
An enjoyable film about the advantages and inconveniences of a hippie/bohemian life in the 60's in Sweden. An amusing account of the vicissitudes of an alternative way of life. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2010 by Marianne Raynaud
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everybody should watch this movie.
This is an amazing piece of film. It leaves you with a happy sunny feeling and a wide smile on your face.
Published on 9 Aug 2010 by bergkvist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing and fun movie
I am a Englishman living in Sweden for the past six years and found this movie very amusing.
Published on 13 Jun 2010 by Nittygritty
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite film
Lukas Moodyson's best film sees him at his most optimistic. Whilst his later works have gone on to explore the darker side of modern European life, Together manages to be... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2006 by A. Montgomery
5.0 out of 5 stars
heart-warming - really!
To describe a film as 'heart-warming'; is a bit of a cliche, but it really is the right word for 'Together'. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2005 by Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
