Ralph Carlsson Movies
- 2008
A rebellious, twelve year-old Swedish immigrant finds her journalistic aspirations threatened by the opposing ambitions of her difficult single mother in writer/director Nanna Huolman's tender family drama. Kirsi hails from a mixed Finnish-Swedish family who emigrated to Sweden some time ago. Since Kirsi's father died, the young girl has lived alone in Sweden with her non-Swedish speaking mother. The year is 1984, and at the onset of summer Kirsi wins a contest that will allow her to become a temporary reporter for a local radio station. But Kirsi's mother Esther longs to fulfill her dreams of becoming a restaurateur by opening a modest dining establishment in the Finnish countryside - an endeavor that would force the adolescent journalist to put her professional ambitions on hold. To make matters worse, Esther has recently been talking about moving back to Gothenburg come fall. Now, as the girl attempts to reconcile her relationship with the mother who seems unwilling to adapt to her new surroundings, she will experience the thrill of first love, and finally discover what it means to call a place your home. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mia Saarinen, Jim Rautiainen, (more)
- 2005
Set in 1984, Ulf Malmros' comedy God Save the King tells the tale of a misfit teenager with dreams of being in a punk rock band. Josefin Nelden plays Abra, a young woman obsessed with punk music. Her attitude and tastes make her an outsider in her provincial hometown, so when a punk group comes through town on a tour she runs away with them. During her adventures on the road she starts to put together a band in the hopes of playing a rock club known as Erroll's. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Josefin Nelden, Cecilia Wallin, (more)
- 2003
Finnish writer/director Arto Koskinen makes his feature film debut with the childhood drama Kahlekuningas (The Handcuff King). Set in the mid-'70s on the border between Sweden and Finland, the story opens in winter as 12-year-old Finnish boy Esko (Miikka Enbuske) is about to attempt a Houdini-like magic trick. Flashbacks show events of the previous summer when he was an outcast from his friends and ended up spending time with a Swedish boy named Patrick (Emil Lundberg) who was obsessed with Houdini. Despite some resentment from parents and other kids, the boys share adventures and protect each other from bullies. Back at home, Esko's parents are splitting up and his grandfather is traumatized from the war. The Handcuff King made its U.S. premiere at the 2003 Seattle International Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Miikka Enbuske, Emil Lundberg, (more)
- 2001
Babies are supposed to bring families together, but the lack of one is doing just the opposite for one hapless couple in this domestic comedy from Sweden. Johan (Jonas Karlsson) is a twenty-something with no particular ambitions in life who is living with his wife Karin (Johanna Sallsstrom) on a farm run by his father Henrik (Ralph Carlsson). Henrik wants Johan to take over the farm some day, but while he's willing to work there until something better happens along, he's not sure he wants to make it his life's work. But John's problems with Henrik are small potatoes compared to his troubles with Karin; the couple has decided they want to have a child, but Karin has been unable to conceive, and as they try one medical treatment after another in hopes of putting Karin on the nest, their marriage starts to fray at the edges. Most of the cast and production staff on Hans och Hennes also worked on the popular Swedish television series The Confession. While the film's English title is Making Babies, the film's original title literally translates as His and Hers. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jonas Karlsson, Johanna Sallstrom, (more)
- 2000
A man makes a disturbing discovery about what he does in his sleep in this thriller from Sweden. Ulrik (Ralph Carlson) is an architect who lives with his wife Monika (Ewa Carlsson) and children in a comfortable suburb. Ulrik's peaceful existence is shattered when he wakes up one morning and discovers Monika and the kids are missing, and his bed is covered with blood. The police have no leads on what may have happened or who might be responsible, though some wonder if Ulrik himself may be to blame. Ulrik discovers he's begun to sleepwalk, and he wonders if his nocturnal journeys have something to do with what happened; hoping to find out what he does while sleeping, Ulrik straps a video camera to his shoulder before going to bed, and he's startled by the results. Sleepwalker was the first feature from director Johannes Runeborg. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ralph Carlsson, Tuva Novotny, (more)
Show Me Love is a coming-of-age comedy set in a sleepy little Swedish town called Amal -- the most boring place on earth according to adolescent Agnes, who moved there a year and a half ago. Agnes is not able to make friends at school; the fact she has to sit next to a girl in a wheelchair doesn't help, either. She's in love with Elin, but no one knows about it except her computer. The title comes from Elin's frequent comment about her new home town. For Agnes' birthday, her parents organize a big party, but she is convinced that no one will come. For lack of anything better to do on a Saturday night, 14-year-old Elin and her older sister arrive at Agnes' door, but Agnes is busy crying her eyes out. Left alone in Agnes' bedroom, the mischievous sisters take a look at the computer and what they discover prompts them to play a dirty joke. If Elin can let Agnes kiss her, her sister will pay her 20 krona. The deed is done; Agnes is flabbergasted and soon humiliated when she finds out that she's been had. Rumors spread around the school like wildfire, and Agnes is the talk of the town. But super cool Elin begins to feel guilty; moreover, she has to admit she was not exactly indifferent to the kiss. In his first feature film, Lukas Moodysson shows the pains of growing up, particularly for a lesbian. Show Me Love was screened as part of the "Panorama" section of the 49th Berlin International Film Festival in 1999 and received the Teddy Award for Best Gay/Lesbian Film. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecca Liljeberg, (more)
In 1959 Sweden, young Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius) lives with his dying mother and his nasty older brother. He survives all of life's knocks by comparing himself to those who are worse off--such as Laika, the little Russian space dog who was rocketed to his death and had nothing to say in the matter. Ingemar begins to identify with Laika more and more as his mother's health deteriorates, at times dropping to all fours and baying at the moon. When his mother is advised to get some peace and quiet away from her children, Ingemar is sent to live with his loveable uncle and aunt. For the first time, the boy is surrounded by relatives and classmates who pose no threat and who genuinely like him. He even has a sexual awakening. When his mother dies, he no longer rationalizes his misfortunes by comparing himself to those less fortunate; from now on, he can conjure up pleasant memories of his summer away from home to sustain him through the hard times. My Life as a Dog (Mitt Liv Som Hund) is based on the autobiographical novel by Reidar Jonsson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anton Glanzelius, Anki Liden, (more)
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