Margareta Byström Movies
- 1987
In this drama, based on a stage play by Agneta Pleijel, an entire family, including grandparents, their children, and the grandchildren (and their lovers, husbands and wives) have gathered to celebrate the family matriarch's birthday. In this dialogue-heavy production, the celebration provides the discontented family members with an opportunity to voice their complaints about their lives and against one another as loudly as possible. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sif Ruud, Margareta Byström, (more)
- 1986
Nadja (Lena Olin) is a television reporter who turns down an assignment in Japan to seek revenge against a philandering physician in this uneven drama. Stefan (Svante Martin) is the doctor who had been Nadja's lover 15 years ago before he left without explanation and married another woman. Nadja goes through emotional turmoil as she gathers information on the maternity ward and rekindles her affair with the dashing doctor. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lena Olin, Svante Martin, (more)
- 1977
Conventions of civility among family members are severely strained by the very real breakup of the bonds between them. During a few days at a vacation home, Katha (Birgitta Valberg), a woman in late middle age, tries to cope with an influx of discontented, disconnected relatives. Her divorced daughter brings all sorts of people to the house, including a woman-friend accompanied by her psychotic son; the grandfather of the house is convinced he is dying and is satisfied by nothing; and some friends drop off their angry teenage son to stay with her, while they go on a long trip abroad. Her friend Emma (Sif Ruud) doesn't help much with keeping a lid on things, as she is a social worker who is fascinated by the awfulness of these situations. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Birgitta Valberg, Sif Ruud, (more)
- 1971
- R
This was famed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's first English-language film, the story of a contented young wife and mother whose marriage is disrupted by an inexplicable attraction. Bergman regular Bibi Andersson plays Karin Vergerus, who is married to a prominent but stodgy surgeon, Andreas (Max Von Sydow, another of Bergman's regular troupe). They live in a small town, and their marriage is peaceful but unexciting. Enter an itinerant American Jewish archaeologist, David Kovac (Elliott Gould, in his first and last Bergman film). David's freedom to travel and live life fully is intoxicating to Karin, who yearns for adventure. But Karin still loves her husband and her family, and she ends up feeling torn between conflicting desires. Compared to earlier Bergman films which were packed with symbolism and psychological imagery, The Touch is a very straightforward and uncomplicated story. The score features music by Jan Johansson, who died in 1968. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bibi Andersson, Elliott Gould, (more)
- 1971
This Swedish sex farce/drama (by Vilgot Sjoman, who made a splash with I Am Curious, Yellow), explores the complications in the relationship of a couple who believe that if they make love to each other, they will die. They neck and are physically affectionate in public as well as in private, but have a big taboo against sexual consummation. Their situation drives them to distraction, and they unsuccessfully seek various extramarital outlets for their frustrations. When they do finally make love, it appears that they do die, but like the mythical figures they resemble, they rise again. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
