Malin Ek Movies
- 2006
Busted by authorities while attempting to gain entry into Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theater and subsequently transported to a remote retirement community, senile former stage director Walter Jan Malmsjo) attempts to stage a geriatric production of Romeo and Juliet in hopes of impressing ageing diva resident Virginia (Ghita Norby), who longs to assume the role of Shakespeare's ill-fated heroine one last time, in director Suzanne Osten's warmhearted tribute to the films of Ingmar Bergman. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Malmsjö, Ghita Nørby, (more)
- 1996
- R
Allegedly based on the childhood traumas suffered by screenwriter Nils Gredeby and director Suzanne Osten, this violent and disturbing Swedish drama is designed for parents and older children. Set in a sleepy summertime Swedish town, it is the story of Carmen, a pretty 12-year-old girl forced to remain behind while her friends go off on their summer vacations. With only her looney mother and the young Kersti and Anders to play with, it promises to be a dull vacation. But when lazy and psychotic 20-year-old Bengan shows up and begins gleefully tormenting them in horrible and violent ways, their vacation becomes a terrifying nightmare that leads them to fight for vengeance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Written by pantheon Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, Sunday's Children was directed by Bergman's son Daniel. This intensely autobiographical film takes place when the elder Bergman was a child of eight. In a near-cathartic fashion, the story illustrates the strained relationship between young Ingmar and his minister father, and the understanding (not always a warm one) between them. Though Daniel Bergman pursues his own visual style, this is his father's film through and through, and as such should be given an honored place in Ingmar's body of work. Sunday's Children is, to date, the best of the recent "retrospectives" penned by the far-from-retired Ingmar Bergman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Berggren, Lena Endre, (more)
- 1990
It is the turn of the century in Russia, and the revolution (at this time not yet a communist one) has sentenced government minister Joel Birkman (Etienne Glaser) to be assassinated for his role in quelling a student rebellion. To that end, they have arranged for one of their number, Jacob (Philip Zanden), to do the deed. In order to get close enough to accomplish this, he takes a job as the minister's secretary, and joins him and his family at his summer home. As he grows acquainted with the man and his family, he discovers that this is not a case of black versus white, but rather of varying shades of gray. Nonetheless, by the end of the film it is clear that no matter how much Jacob likes the man and his family, he is going to do what he believes to be his duty. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Zandén, Etienne Glaser, (more)
- 1986
Originally titled Broderna Mozart, the Swedish The Mozart Brothers stars Etienne Glaser as a highly unorthodox opera director. His plans to stage Don Giovanni in bizarre, inappropriate costumes, and to have the orchestra members take singing roles, enrages the conservatory opera company that has engaged him. Glaser is motivated by the "voice of God"--God being in this instance Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose ghost commiserates with the innovational director from time to time. The Mozart Brothers was itself directed by Suzanne Osten, daughter of a leading Swedish film critic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Etienne Glaser, Philip Zandén, (more)
- 1985
A nail-biting, hair-raising suspense yarn that feeds on jealousy, this chilling film by Hans Alfredson has John (Sverre Anker Ousdal), a philandering husband, fall in love with Clara (Malin Ek), a young poetess. When Clara and John move into an apartment on the sleazy side of town, neither her former lover nor his wife put up much objection. Then oddly menacing things start to happen in the apartment: objects are misplaced in a dangerous way, the gas leaks, and someone unknown is filling the place with graffiti. Clara's health degenerates rapidly, and as ominous circumstances push her and John to the brink, a shocking revelation looms ahead. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malin Ek, Sverre Anker Ousdal, (more)
- 1982
The story of director Suzanne Osten's mother Gerd (Malin Ek) is told in this film set against the backdrop of a neutral Sweden in World War II, and the comings and goings of creative talents as they develop their own visions and capacities. Osten's mother had always wanted to produce a film, and although the inspiration was there after a 1939 meeting with Jean-Louis Barrault in Paris, even advice from notables such as Berthold Brecht (though insensitively given) and love affairs that offered some spiritual encouragement, could not stem the gradual and inexorable erosion of her mental stability. By 1944, Gerd was ill enough to be diagnosed as insane. As Gerd destabilizes, her mental afflictions are called forth in avant-garde, surreal visions that move in and out of the reality that carries the woman forward each day. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malin Ek, Etienne Glaser, (more)
- 1970
- R
Liv Ullmann plays the widowed, crippled Anna Fromm, who while traveling on a remote island calls upon reclusive ex-convict Andreas (Max von Sydow) in order to use his telephone. After Anna leaves, Andreas discovers she's left her purse behind; he opens it, hoping to find some identification. A letter in the purse details Anna's unhappy marriage and the depths of her loneliness. Eventually, Anna moves in with Andreas, who has become more closely acquainted with her through the intervention of Anna's friends Ellis and Evan Vergerus (Bibi Andersson and Erland Josephson). But tensions and conflicts ensue, and threaten to destroy the burgeoning relationship between Anna and Andreas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liv Ullmann, Bibi Andersson, (more)
