Under the Sun (Under Solen)

Under the Sun (Under Solen)
by Colin Nutley

Under the Sun (Under Solen)
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Gunilla R??r, Helena Bergstr?m, Johan Widerberg, Jonas Falk, Rolf Lassg?rd
Director: Colin Nutley
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Swedish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 118 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-02-17
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: New Yorker Video

Movie Reviews of Under the Sun (Under Solen)

Movie Review: Coming of Age in Middleage
Summary: 4 Stars

After a quick and casual glance at some reviews of "Under the Sun", I had an idea this movie was a sort of "Jules and Jim". As I watched it unfold, I realized that it was it's own, unique and beautifully presented film. Its' title means to tell us that there is nothing new under the sun and that this is just another love story. That may well be true but we come away in appreciation of the quality in this film that leaves us thinking that this is indeed something special (and it is!). What really makes this movie work is the main character Olof who comes across so well as the 42-year old vigin. Olof is rather oafish but sincere and he is in need of something he's never had. However, the 4-letter "L" word he is looking for is love, not lust. He tries the only method that this bachelor farmer can come up with; he advertizes for a housekeeper. We've already guessed what the story is after the first few minutes but the characters, the situations, and the contrast of sincerity and insincerity keep us focussed for the entire movie. The ending is a bit of an emotional roller coaster but it does not disappoint us. There is a periodic and brief interlude of something in flight that puzzled me until its' last appearance when I realized it was to serve as a barometer of Olof's temperment.

This movie is a bit crude at times which eliminates it from any consideration as a "Family Film". However, I have come to accept in practice rather than in principle that this is what one often gets in European films. Watch it after the kids go to bed but be sure to watch it!

Summary of Under the Sun (Under Solen)

From the Director of House of Angels and Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, Under the Sun is a sensuous, lush and lyrical film, set in 1956 in the sun-drenched summer countryside of Sweden. Sweet but lonesome Olof (Rolf Lassg?rd) lives by himself on his family's farm after the death of his mother. Unable to read or write and therefore forced to take people on trust, Olof must depend upon his womanizing younger friend Erik (Johan Widerberg) to help him with the farmwork. Erik, once a sailor and now a part-time gravedigger, shamelessly uses Olof's money for bets at the racetrack. One day, out of the blue, Olof places an advertisement in the local paper: "Lonely farmer, 39, own car. Seeks young lady housekeeper. Photograph appreciated." It's not long before the ad attracts a surprising candidate: Ellen (Helena Bergstr?m), a beautiful, 34-year-old, well-heeled city woman. As the summer progresses, Ellen effectively takes over both the house and Olof's heart. Erik, also taken by Ellen, is determined to destroy her blossoming romance with Olof by unearthing the secret past he's convinced she's hiding.
A perfectly lovely excursion to the Swedish countryside, as love sprouts in an unlikely place. It's 1956, and a 40-year-old bachelor farmer (played by the hefty and likable Rolf Lassgard) places an ad for a housekeeper. The woman that shows up on his doorstep is a city-wise knockout--which pleases the farmer no end, but sets off warning bells for his skeptical buddy. Director Colin Nutley (reuniting with his radiant House of Angels star, Helena Bergstrom) doesn't stint on the lush visual treatment of a golden rural oasis in summer, but the movie isn't just eye candy. Its careful, respectful approach to a gently-growing romance is like the patience of a farmer who knows that a good crop takes time to nurture. Added bonus: the music from Irish musician Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains, another unexpected choice in a movie that simply feels really good. --Robert Horton

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