Stig Engstrom Movies

A man finds the road back to happiness is long and difficult after losing his wife and child in this drama from Sweden. Lasse (Michael Nyqvist) is a contented man with a loving wife and two healthy children until an auto accident claims the lives of his spouse and his youngest son. The death takes a terrible toll on Lasse, and while his teenage son Jonas (Anastasios Soulis) tries to help him get through the days, much of the time he'd prefer to stay in bed rather than face the world, and eventually he attempts suicide. Jonas's grandparents (Sten Ljunggren and Anita Wall) are uncertain about Lasse's ability to look after his son, and look into taking custody of Jonas; Lasse, however, wants another chance to reconnect with Jonas and reality, and they travel to Gothenburg to spend a few weeks at the family's seaside vacation house. Lasse emotionally connects with Simon (Philip Zanden) and Lotta (Catherine Hansson), a couple next door who help him sort out his feelings of loss and grief, and Jonas enjoys a youthful romance with beautiful Helena (Moa Gammel). However, when the grandparents pay a visit to celebrate midsummer, Lasse goes on a drunken bender and they become convinced he's beyond help. Underbara Alskade (aka Suddenly) was the first feature film from writer and director Johan Brisinger. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Walter (Kent Andersson) is a retired sailor and former boxer who meets a 13-year-old prostitute and drug addict (Ulrika Hansson) in this symbolic action drama. Moved by her plight, he complains to the local police about the problem of child prostitution and drug dealing in the area. When they do nothing to stop the problem, Walter recruits Carina (Eva Britt Strandberg), a veteran hooker with a heart of gold (or course) to track down the gangleaders who force the young girls into sexual slavery and drug addiction. Carina's presence keeps Walter from being killed as she accompanies him through the seamier side of the Stockholm underworld. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Gunilla Nyroos plays celebrated Swedish author and heroine Moa Martinson in this historical film biography. She marries a hard-drinking miner and the union produces five children. Two of the children die, and her husband commits suicide by blowing himself up with dynamite. But Moa finds solace and a kindred spirit in writer Harry Martinson (Reine Brynolfsson) after her unhappy first marriage. Moa and Harry both becomes famous authors, with Harry winning the Nobel Prize for literature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Diana Sands stars in the provocative romantic drama Georgia, Georgia. While performing in Sweden, black singer Georgia (Diana Sands) falls in love with white photographer Michael Winters (Dirk Benedict). The issue of miscegenation weighs heavily upon the proceedings, though it is Georgia's black travelling companion Alberta (Minnie Gentry), rather than Michael's white friends, who is most upset by the interracial relationship. Alberta despises all whites with a vengeance, and it is her hatred that formulates the film's explosive climax. Scripted by Maya Angelou, Georgia, Georgia can't help but seem dated when shown today; its principal virtues are Diana Sands' performance and Andreas Ballas' cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director Vilgot Sjoman draws on his experience as a former prison guard to illustrate the problems of the penal system. Filming was done a Langholm prison, where inmates and officials are interviewed. Using a combination of documentary and fictional styles, the film illustrates the sordid life and living conditions of a prisoner. There are some modern facilities and techniques used for rehabilitation, but the majority of facilities are woefully understaffed and underfunded. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide