Ingvar Kjellson Movies

This biography profiles the life and times of early 20th century Swedish painter Anders Zorn who gained notoriety for his nudes. His works are currently worth millions. The film is set in the time when Zorn, already respected for his art, was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Swedish king. Though an excellent painter, Zorn's personal life is dreadful. A boozer and a womanizer who frequently cheats on his wife, Zorn constantly seeks approval for his art. When he travels to the U.S. for a tour he meets Emilie Bartlett the wife of sculptor Paul W. Bartlett with whom he begins a sporadic affair. After Paul commits suicide, Zorn and Emilie move to Sweden. Zorn disregards his wife's feelings and openly displays his affections for Emilie. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This big-budget animated feature from Sweden, drawing upon some of that country's best known performers, is a children's adventure story with a cautionary ecological theme. The director drew his inspiration from such diverse sources as The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, and Machine Island, by ules Verne. In the story, Prospero has been exiled from his home, and is living on the island of Melonia with his daughter Miranda, an albatross named Ariel, and a fruit-monster called Caliban. Just as Caliban has finished creating something called "power soup" from the emanations of a local volcano, a crew of ne'er do wells crash-lands. They are from Plutonia, a polluted industrial planet given over to entirely to making weaponry, and they have come to steal Caliban's creation. Their plan is to take over the world Melonia is on and make it just as ugly as their own. Prospero and his kin band together to rescue the children on the industrial planet, who have been enslaved to work in the munitions factories, and at the same time put a stop to the evil plans of the Plutonians. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The real Rakenstam, the subject of this fictional treatment of his life from 1942-1945 before his imprisonment, had romantic liaisons with hundreds of women over a three-year period and managed to scam large amounts of money from 120 of them, thriving off each one and somehow managing to make each believe she was the only woman in his life. He was 42 at the time he started these exploits, and even after he was caught because of a blackmailer, the women not only refused to sue him, but they filled his jail cell with roses. While his deception was a work in progress, there were many moments of anxiety (he had been engaged to two of the women) as he tried to juggle the women, pay off the blackmailer, and maintain his identity as a businessman or banker. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Eller (Erland Josephson) is a successful, middle-aged married man who becomes a celebrity when he woos the femme reporter Anna (Bibi Andersson) during his mid-life crisis. He goes on the lecture circuit where he encourages avid listeners to abandon the shackles of staid mediocrity and live life to the fullest. His star sinks when Anna turns him down, and Eller returns home to find his daughter has run off to "find herself." Eller's wife tries unsuccessfully to seduce one of her husband's cousins as retribution for her husband's much-publicized dalliance. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Joergen (Per Myberg) is the Swedish journalist who uncovers a gun-running operation on the borders of Vietnam. The trail leads to a financial group of wealthy industrialists lead by Magnus Rud (Max von Sydow). He refuses to bury the story, leading to trouble for the idealistic reporter and his girlfriend Christine (Lena Granhagen) in this political drama about the war machine and freedom of the press. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Shame demonstrates the futility of escaping the consequences of war. In 1971, the Rosenbergs, Jan (Max von Sydow) and Eva (Liv Ullmann), have retreated to an island off the coast of their unnamed country, which is embroiled in a civil conflict. Trained and employed as classical violinists, they make a modest living raising and selling lingonberries, though they continue to play their instruments. When a plane carrying soldiers crashes on the island, Jan and Eva see their lives changed in an instant as soldiers from both sides of the conflict overrun the island and fighting breaks out. The couple is arrested and charged with collaborating with the rebel forces. Colonel Jacobi (Gunnar Bjornstrand), an old friend of the couple, is in charge of the army defending the island, and he agrees to have the couple released if Eva will have sex with him. Shortly after Jan learns of Eva's betrayal, rebel forces gain the upper hand and order Jan to execute Jacobi, which he readily agrees to do. Not sure which side is safe to throw in with, the couple agree to leave on an early morning boat for another island, which is presumably sheltered from the conflict. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide

This Swedish feminist drama focuses upon three women in a traveling troupe of thespians performing Aristophanes' Lysistrata. Each of the women has some serious problems and fears to overcome. The husband of one has two lovers. The lover of another will not marry her, and the third's husband stays home to care for the kids. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this Scandinavian melodrama, a Swedish lieutenant journeys to a lonely island off the coast of Lapland for a summer of badly needed rest and relaxation. Once there, the soldier rents a hunting lodge from an aging local. Soon he encounters his landlord's lovely daughter who, while finding the stranger attractive, is put off by her innate distrust of men. With patience, he shows that men can indeed be trusted; he also introduces her to love. Unfortunately, the girl gets quite jealous when her father's lovely mistress also begins flirting with the stranger. The father is an abusive and jealous man; he cannot help but notice that his formerly passive daughter and mistress have begun standing up to him. To get even, he sends for the wealthy baron who once courted his daughter. He then informs his daughter that her lover, the soldier, has also been carrying on with his mistress. The lass disbelieves him until she sees the truth for herself, and the utterly distraught young woman agrees to marry the baron. The father then makes a play for his former mistress who spurns him and flees into the snowy mountains. It is an unfortunate coincidence that the soldier should choose that time to fire a signal shot to his lover, for his gun triggers off a deadly avalanche that sweeps the hapless mistress to her doom. The father goes mad with grief and burns down his hunting lodge. Later the lieutenant tries to smooth it all over with the daughter, but she is disconsolate and rejects him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Jazzgossen (The Jazz Boy) is the filmed biography of famed Swedish showbiz entrepreneur Teddy Anker. During the Roaring '20s, socialite Anker (played by Hasse Ekman, who also directed), diverts his family millions into managing a nightclub, promoting prizefights, inaugurating a movie company, and various and sundry other forms of entertainment-industry largesse. Losing his fortune in the financial crash of the early 1930s, Anker picks himself up, dusts himself off, and starts all over again. The story ends during WWII when, despite Sweden's neutrality, Anker vows to do his bit for the war effort. Several of Teddy Anker's contemporaries play themselves, including musican Karl Gerhard, who originally popularized the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide