Nina Gunke Movies
- 1999
In what has to be one of the worst ideas in Christmas party planning history, Swedish house wife Sara (Katarina Ewerlof) decides to celebrate the yuletide season with her three ex-husbands and their families. Though her current spouse Janne (Peter Haber) initially is quite opposed, he eventually gives in. At first, the party -- filled with adults and children alike -- recalls the gauzy warmth of the famous Christmas scene in Fanny and Alexander (1982). Then the booze kicks in. Families start infighting. Janne grows increasingly annoyed as the guests make repeated references to having sex with his wife. And during dinner, Sara announces that she is pregnant. This strikes Janne as odd considering that he had a vasectomy a year before. Soon the party devolves into utter chaos. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Haber, Leif Andree, (more)
A young man growing up at a difficult time enters into a relationship that only makes his life more complicated in this acclaimed coming-of-age drama. Stig (Johan Widerberg) is a 15-year-old boy growing up in Malmo, Sweden, in 1942. While WWII rages in Europe, Sweden remains politically neutral, though it's all but impossible for the people of Malmo not to have an opinion about the conflict, and Stig's own brother intends to volunteer to serve on a submarine. Stig has fallen in love with his schoolteacher Viola (Marika Lagercrantz), who is 22 years his senior. To his great surprise, Viola confesses that she's also attracted to Stig; she's stuck in a failing marriage to Kjell (Tomas von Bromssen), a depressive alcoholic salesman, and there's something in Stig's naive desire that touches her. The two become involved in a passionate love affair, which Viola makes little effort to disguise from Kjell; in fact, Kjell becomes friendly with Stig and tries to teach him about his great passion in life, classical music. Eventually, Stig becomes attracted to Lisbet (Karin Huldt), a girl from school his own age, and when they become involved, Stig breaks off his affair with Viola. Viola is not eager to give up Stig, and in time, she retaliates with violence. Lust Och Fagring Stor was the final film from noted Swedish director Bo Widerberg; he died two years after its release -- at the age of 56. Jonah Widerberg, who played Stig, is Bo's son, and was 21 at the time the film was released. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johan Widerberg, Marika Lagercrantz, (more)
- 1994
In this alternately humorous and tragic semi-autobiographical film, director Stellan Olsson reminisces upon his childhood. After a long absence, Man, who represents Olsson, returns to his home town Svalov. As he walks the familiar streets taking photographs the old times return in a series of flashbacks which chronicle his budding sexuality, his friendships, and his thoughts on the adult world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lars-Erik Berenett, Christian Gortz, (more)
A fourteen year-old boy who is neglected by his father and disregarded by his decadent mother begins to experience a remarkable transformation in director Svend Wam's haunting drama. When things around the house begin to grow dire, dejected adolescent Lakki begins spending most of his time on the streets. Unfortunately for Lakki the streets are no more kind than home, and it isn't long before he is being brutalized by a vicious punk rocker. When feathers inexplicably begin sprouting out of Lakki's back, the miraculous event compels the frightened youngster to fight for his life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Looking back on his childhood, the man in this film narrates the story of one of his life's major turning points. As a boy living in Copenhagen in the '30s, he had always looked up to his father, an odd, loving, and at times overwhelming man. He was particularly in awe of the adventures his father had on the Argentine pampas. One day, his father causes a ruckus at the zoo by claiming the llamas there aren't the genuine article because then didn't spit at him. Not long after that, he invites some new neighbors to join him and his family on an excursion to the beach. Inadvertently, as he listens to his father conversing with these new acquaintances, he figures out that his father's great claims were all made up. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erik Clausen, Nina Gunke, (more)
- 1985
This uneven comedy is set in the 1920s and stars Janne Carlsson, one of Sweden's favorite comics, in the role of Albert Jansson, a fisherman who turns from fish to foul in order to make a better living. In a near-parody of its cinematic predecessors, Smugglarkungen is also set in a bucolic coastal community where love and the forces of virtue face heavy-duty challenges. Albert is an honest fisherman until he succeeds with a vengeance at bootlegging and cannot but enjoy the happy consequences of his success: namely, the physical attractions of the fair Sickan (Nina Gunke) and equally appealing Grethe (Sanne Salomonsen, one of Denmark's more popular rock stars). Albert's love-life is rudely interrupted when the "smuggling king" Strauss (Ernst Gunther) and his minions resent his intrusion on their lucrative turf, and to make matters worse, Lt. Winkel (Bjorn Skifs) is sent from Stockholm to investigate possible customs violations in the area. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janne Carlsson, Bjorn Skifs, (more)
