METTEL RAY

Thursday Movie Picks: Non-English Language Movies – Scandinavian Language

Here I am, commiting to something that is (hopefully) permanent… Every Thursday I will be posting a list of movie recommentations following the topics by the creator of this series, Wandering Through the Shelves. This week’s topic, as seen from the title, is movies in the Scandinavian language and not going to lie, I’m pretty sure I’ve only seen a few so I’m listing most of them here.

1. PLAY, 2011, Sweden

Based on cases of real bullying, this movie tells a story of a street gang that bullied kids in Gothenberg, Sweden throughout two years. I remember seeing this during a Film Festival years ago, and I still remember how trained I felt aterwards.

2. MAN’S JOB, 2011, Finland

Alright, so I’m walking a thin line here (Finnish is sort of Scandinavian though), but this Finnish movie about a family man, who decides to earn extra money to provide for his family by selling himself and his services is memorable for many reasons.

3. A WAR, 2015, Denmark

Another movie I saw during a Film Festival, and this one will probably stay with me for years as well. The question of right and wrong from a perspective of a father and a commander, is the main theme of this movie. It was amazing, and the lead actor, who looks like Joshua Jackson, was great! It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.

 

 

 

mettelray

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20 responses to “Thursday Movie Picks: Non-English Language Movies – Scandinavian Language”

  1. Maria Casacalenda (Big City Bookworm) Avatar
    Maria Casacalenda (Big City Bookworm)

    These all sound fantastic! Definitely going to have to look them all up!

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      A War is a must for many reasons!

      Reply
  2. Elliot Newton Avatar
    Elliot Newton

    I haven’t seen any of your picks, but I have heard of the final pick and have been meaning to see it. Play sounds interesting.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Definitely give that one a try, that’s the best one in this list!

      Reply
  3. Wendell Avatar
    Wendell

    Haven’t seen or heard of any of your picks. Damn watchlist just keeps growing.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Sorry! But the last one should be on the watchlist for sure.

      Reply
  4. Daniel Bayer Avatar
    Daniel Bayer

    So glad you plan on doing this regularly! The only one I’ve seen is A War, which I thought was GREAT. The other two sound good, too.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Fingers crossed, some of the topics in September are already so difficult but I’ll push through it 😀

      Reply
  5. joelnox Avatar
    joelnox

    Intriguing choices none of which I’ve seen unfortunately. They all sound interesting in different ways. Look forward to seeing you picks each week from now on!

    My knowledge of Scandinavian films is very narrow and limited almost exclusively to Swedish film and even within that with a few exceptions to the films of Ingmar Bergman who makes up the lion’s share of my picks this week with an outside pick from that other famous Bergman Swede, Ingrid.

    Wild Strawberries (1957)-Lovely reverie about looking back at life and the memories that come unbidden. Approaching 80 Dr. Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström), a retired doctor and professor, a remote man with a cold demeanor is traveling from his home in Stockholm to Lund to accept an honorary degree. Originally intending to fly he decides to drive instead accompanied by his daughter-in-law Marianne (Ingrid Thulin), a journey of a day. Along their way the people they meet and stops they make, including the doctor’s childhood summer home, lead him to evaluate the man he was and the one he has become. My favorite Bergman film.

    A Woman’s Face (1938)-Ingrid Bergman plays Anna Holm, a woman whose facial disfigurement has led her to become a blackmailer out of bitterness. The ruthless leader of a gang, she has no compassion for anyone until one of her victims turns out to be married to a renowned plastic surgeon giving Anna the opportunity to change her life. However the long tentacles of her former accomplices don’t want to let her go. Solid drama was remade a few years later by MGM with Joan Crawford.

    Sawdust & Tinsel (1953)-As a ragtag circus troupe makes its way through the bleak Swedish countryside conflicts arise between the members of the group. When they arrive in the town where owner Albert’s ex-wife lives he seeks reconciliation leading to bitterness from his present mistress who becomes involved with an actor with designs of his own leading to misery for all. Dark and unsettling but that’s Bergman for you.

    Honorable Mention-Cries & Whispers (1972)-Heavy, heavy Ingmar Bergman drama of recrimination and the acrid damage caused to relationships by long buried resentments. Two sisters gather at their childhood home to await the death of the third desperately ill sister. While they fail to reconnect to each other or their mortally ill sibling their maid seems to be the only person in the house who is capable of offering comfort and empathy. Color is used heavily to convey the oppressive mood of the picture although sometimes too much so, by the end you feel like you’ve been living inside a tomato for ninety minutes. Still an intricate, interesting drama.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Oh boy, I haven’t seen any movies in your list! But the last one sounds especially something I would want to watch. I guess I have to add that to my watchlist! Thanks for commenting! Hopefully I’ll see you next week, I have a great list (imo) for that topic! 😀

      Reply
  6. Birgit Avatar
    Birgit

    I know what you mean about not seeing too many. Finland is Scandanavian in my book. I haven’t even heard of these films and not sure I would see them.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Well then I was right to trust the Wikipidia.. long and behold, it has so far never betrayed me!

      Reply
  7. katie Avatar
    katie

    You’re fine as Finland is part of Scandinavia. Kudos for finding a Finnish film!

    Unfortunately I;ve not seen any of these but they sound good. You always find the gems at film festivals.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Ha, well I googled and it said that Finland is sometimes considered as Scandinavia, so I didn’t know if this was that situation. And for me, the festival is the place I see non-English movies the most!

      Reply
  8. Brittani Avatar
    Brittani

    I’m glad you’re going to start doing this! I haven’t seen your picks, but I have A War saved in my Netflix queue.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Nice! That’s my favorite in the list.

      Reply
  9. Sonia Avatar
    Sonia

    I haven’t seen any of these but they all sound great. I wanted to watch A War but it never had a theatrical release where I live.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      It wasn’t in theaters here either, but lucky for me, I went to see it at the festival. I don’t know if I would have seen it any other way,I’m bad at watching European movies at home.

      Reply
  10. abbiosbiston Avatar
    abbiosbiston

    I would recommend The Hunt, A Royal Affair and In a World.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      You know, The Hunt is on my list.. and it has been on my list for so long!! I need to get to it, damn it!

      Reply

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