Under the Sun (1998)
Olof lives alone on his family's farm after the death of his mother. Unable to read and write, he is dependent on his younger friend, Erik, who helps him in the afternoons. Once a sailor, Erik brags of having known hundreds of women. Out of the blue, Olof advertises in the local paper for a young lady housekeeper, and Ellen, a middle-class city woman, arrives to take over the house and, as the summer goes on, Olof's heart and Erik's desire as well.
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Strong and Moving!
Admirable film.
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
"Under the Sun" is a bucolic, warm, charming, and sentimental story about a 40 year old Swedish farmer who hires an attractive housekeeper who tends to somewhat more than cooking and cleaning. He's illiterate with an inheritance, she's smart and pretty, and he has a young male friend who may be after both his money and the woman. A lovely bit of romantic melodrama laced with humor and rustic beauty which could steal your heart or make you gag depending on your taste. Recommended for more mature sentimentalists. (B)
We loved this film. In a time of fast action, surprise, and worst-case scenarios, this is a human drama about living, love, relationship, and truth. The cinematography is stunning. Warm, golden hues of a Swedish summer ... and a reminder of life outside of our current era of technology and speed. A story of two people falling in love for who they are ... not titles. Many visual and cinematographic metaphors and allusions. A beautiful and touching film.
I was lucky enough to have seen this film only a month or two ago on TV, and I loved it. Rolf Lassgård is excellent and makes you feel compassion for Olof and his situation. Erik is somewhat likeable and dislikable at the same time, and Ellen is perfect, making an attractive and layered character. This is a sweet movie, with a little uncertainty to keep you interested and hopeful. A simple story about life and love, that you'll be glad you watched.
Left the theater feeling good, as another reviewer said. Not the most original story, but has many of the human touches and imperfections that Hollywood often hides. The leading actress is BEAUTIFUL, though still "one of us" in her (minor) imperfections. I was somewhat disconcerted by the Irish music background in a Swedish setting, but then again, what do I know? Hope to find this movie on DVD someday (I'll put it on my DVD wish list, somewhere below "Babette's Feast").