Helena Bergström Movies

John (Dennis Christopher) is a legal assistant who investigates divorce cases in this offbeat comedy drama. He looks forward to marriage to his fiancee Sally (Edita Brychta), but his daydream is interrupted when a model plane crashes through his window. A bratty kid enters the room, followed by the child's parents, another brother, two daughters and the grandmother. The family ignores John's protests and threats to call the police. Although he has never seen these people before, everyone assures John he is among friends. He is seduced by the oldest daughter, and the son make a pass at Sally before the youngest daughter makes a pass at John. His once-predictable world is turned upside down with the arrival of his mysterious "friends." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Fans of World War Two history will be attracted to this very long made-for-TV epic drama, which follows a Swedish family during the war. The compromises and privations of wartime are the main focus of the film, and the story includes several unlikely romances. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

House of Angels is a comedy about prejudice in a small Swedish town. The owner of the farm Änglagård is killed in an automobile accident, and the community is surprised and outraged when his granddaughter turns up at the funeral to claim the farm. Fanny (Helena Bergström) is a leather-jacketed cabaret performer from Berlin, and she lives with her gay biker buddy, Zac (Rikard Wolff). Many members of the community are horrified and make no bones about it. Appearances aren't everything, however. Fanny and Zac are far from the drugged-out weirdos they seem to be, and slowly but surely, the community accepts them. Expat British director Colin Nutley manages to forge strong, well-developed characters from these stereotypical origins. ~ John Voorhees, All Movie Guide

Tove and Claes Salefalk (Helena Bergstrom and Reine Bynolfsson) and Liselott and Lennart Waltner (Ewa Froling and Peter Andersson) have known one another for years. At one time the two couples were good friends, but they have drifted apart recently. Both couples compete internationally as ballroom dancers, and both are very good, but the Waltners are better. They keep winning competition after competition, leaving the Salefalks in the dust. After a while, Tove just can't bear it, which is why, by the time they gather for the funeral of Claes' mother, they haven't spoken for almost a year. Meeting at the funeral, they attempt to renew their relationship, and take a vacation together in Barbados. However, close proximity only makes the tension worse. Another thing which bugs Tove is that she is sterile and can't have children, while Liselott gets pregnant and has one abortion after another. Things come to a head during a competition at Blackpool, an oceanside resort in northern England. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

With only two weeks to go before she turns the dreaded 30, Tin-Tin, a Swedish piano player hastily tries to achieve her two highest goals: to perform in the lounge of the Grand Hotel in Stockholm and to find a husband. Tin-Tin's endeavors provide the basis of this black Swedish comedy. She has a live-in lover, but Paul, who hosts the popular radio call-in show "Such Is Life," shows little interest in serious commitment, even though the subject of his series is how to make relationships work. Tin-Tin is also the object of her manager Stef's hottest fantasies. Olle, the owner of a large hotel has similar designs, though he is married. All of them are floored when she suddenly announces that she is marrying a Norwegian industrial tycoon in a tiny, picturesque northern town. That wedding is where the bulk of the film's most darkly humorous moments occurs. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Still Crazy is a film that looks back at the "rock band" era of the 1970s. Brian Gibson, who has directed musical biographies on Josephine Baker and Tina Turner, sets his narrative on a rock group, Strange Fruit, who are attempting a comeback twenty years after a bolt of lightening literally ended their career in the late 1970's. When keyboard player Tony (Stephan Rea) runs into the son of their old festival promoter, he gets the idea he could perhaps bring the aging musicians together for a revival. He goes off to search for Karen (Juliet Aubre), the band's Girl Friday and often the butt of their various ego trips. Karen, who now lives alone with her daughter, thinks it's a great idea and they set off to locate the other members. Beano (Timothy Spall), the drummer, has barricaded himself away in a trailer in his mother's garden for fear of being caught by the taxman. Ray (Bill Nighy), the lead singer, lives in a luxurious country house (beyond his means) with his second wife; he's still in the music business and has released a solo record. Les (Jimmy Nail), a great bass guitarist, is happily married, and his only regret is that his music never found the following he would have liked. As for ex-roadie Hughie (Billy Connolly), the Fruits were always his boys, and he's ready to give up his stall at Camden market and follow the dream. He would also love to see guitarist Brian again, but Brian is nowhere to be found. Karen decides to hire a much younger musician, Luke, to replace him. The re-formed band go to Holland to play a few clubs on a warm-up tour. However, the youngest member of the band is stealing the show, particularly with the members of the opposite sex. Despite efforts to stay calm and professional, the band is falling into the old routine of bickering day by day as they get close to the big reunion concert. Still Crazy was screened as part of the Panorama during the 49th International Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide

Nine of Sweden's leading actresses are brought together in this unconventional comedy-drama about a group of actresses awaiting a casting announcement. A major American film producer is looking for a Swedish actress to play the title role in a big-budget remake of the classic Greta Garbo vehicle Queen Christina, and a handful of women who were in talks for the role wait with bated breath for the decision to be declared. Rebecca (Lena Endre), married to hunky matinee idol Ake (Mikael Persbrandt), is spending her 40th birthday waiting for word on the role. Alexandra (Suzanne Reuter) will be shooting a TV commercial, to be directed by Rolf (Brasse Brannstrom). Rolf used to be involved with Cecilia (Marie Richardson), who lately is nearly as well known for the fact that she's pregnant and not identifying the father as she is for her acting. Cecilia appears on a morning chat show with Georgina (Ewa Froling), who used to be in love with Gregor (Peter Haber), Alexandra's current husband. Stella (Helena Bergstrom) is a defiantly out lesbian who is having an affair with Karin (Marika Lagercrantz), the wife of film director Magnus (Rolf Lassgard). Stella also happens to be starring in Magnus' latest project, along with Ake and Molly (Pernilla August). Meanwhile, Git (Gunilla Roor) is in a session with her analyst, trying to come to terms with her feelings about her work, and Evior (Stina Ekblad) is in rehearsal for a musical, and reaching the regrettable conclusion that she can neither dance nor sing. In keeping with the film's tangled onscreen relationships, Helena Bergstrom, who plays a lesbian sleeping with her director's wife, is married to Colin Nutley, Gossip's writer and director. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A young woman of Middle Eastern heritage wants to become a cop in blue-eyed, blonde-haired Sweden while dealing with some rough spots in her love life in this blend of family drama and romantic comedy. Sinan (Korhan Abay) was born and raised in Turkey and enjoyed a successful career as a surgeon. However, when circumstances dictated that Sinan and his wife Ayse (Zinat Pirzadeh) had to leave Turkey, they moved to Sweden, where he was unable to practice medicine and now makes a living driving commuter trains. Bitter Sinan lives with Ayse and their two grown-up daughters, Yasmin (Nina Zanjani) and Dilek (Stella Enciso), who are thoroughly acclimated to Swedish culture. Yasmin dreams of becoming a police officer, and has enrolled at the police academy, where she meets fellow student Elin (Rakel Warmlander). Yasmin and Elin become fast friends, but Yasmin also finds herself becoming infatuated with Henke (Mattias Redbo), Elin's boyfriend. Henke is also attracted to Yasmin, and as they struggle with their mutual desire Henke learns that Elin has had a fling with one of the men in her class. Should all four parties feel free to follow their desires? Should Yasmin leave Erin and Henke to patch up their differences? And what about the racist would-be cop at the Academy who has it in for Yasmin and resembles a fugitive on the run from the law? Mind The Gap was the first directorial credit for veteran Swedish actress Helena Bergstrom. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide