Everlasting Moments

Five-time Oscar nominee Jan Troell may not be a household name anywhere other than his native Sweden, but the man sure knows how to direct actors. This is a deeply personal film, set in a poverty-ridden small Swedish town in the early 1900's. Paced extremely slowly, and shot with an obviously low budget, this can often feel like a play; with its lack of exteriors and a general claustrophobic atmosphere rampant throughout - not a bad thing when the performances are this good.

Needless to say times are tough; even tougher when Daddy has had a few drinks and is feeling insecure about his manhood. Based around the life of caring mother (and perennial punchbag) Maria, the film chronicles her struggle to essentially feed their family and stay alive. Having won a camera on a local lottery, Maria makes a stand and refuses to sell it when her husband sees a chance to make a quick buck. She soon discovers that she has a natural gift for taking pictures, and through developing her photographs, begins a platonic love affair with a local shopkeeper. While her other half, Sigfrid, fornicates with any woman with a heartbeat, Maria inexplicably feels the need to repress her feelings for her gentle suitor.

Simply put, Everlasting Moments is a really lovely film. Sure, as modern filmmaking goes, it's as basic as you can get. Given the setting, however, you get feeling that was kind of the point. Despite its strengths, the main reason for seeing this has to be the fantastic lead performance of Maria Heiskanen, who really exudes a genuine warmth. Her scenes with Sebastian (an excellent Jesper Christensen) will simultaneously warm and break the heart at the same time. Well worth seeking out.