Britt-Marie war hier

A very enjoyable movie that I was reluctant to watch. After wading through 762 pages of the book that seemed to have been written for prisoners on death row that had no escape, the movie was a breath of fresh air. It certainly was not Mary Poppins were every 12 seconds you were hit over the head with goodness. The movie expected more from you. If you melded at all with Britt-Marie and began to see who she was, a look of helplessness on her face told more that a 15 page explanation in the book. After loosing her sister who was the only person who she shared dreams with and never being able to find that again she stopped dreaming. And after a while you forget to look. Then if you are lucky you realize that maybe you can dream again.

First off, the elephant in the room, books are always better than films. And I didn't read the book, but that is a truism.

I found this by accident and it was a happy one - for me. I rated it 9 stars to make up for the lower rating that I think are unfair. I would have given it 8.

All of the actors - including the gaggle of kids - were well suited to their rolls. Vega played by Stella Oyoko Bengtsson was quietly brilliant in her addressing Britt-Marie in problems that were facing both of them. From the lips of children .....

I loved loved loved the ending where winning was defined in a way that is more realistic and humane that it usually is in today's harsh world. Not at all in black and white, but in a soft nuance that we should (and I hate that word) all take away from this sweet film and keep with us for the rest of our lives - how ever long they may be.

You can see elements of A Man Called Ove in this, even thought it's also a very different story. If you loved that film there's a good chance you'll love this one too. You will laugh and possibly cry.

I have read the book a few years ago and struggled with it, unlike other novels by Frederick Backman. The movie bought it to life for me, I need to go back and read it again.

Although the premise of the story is a little far-fetched, the theme of making the most of opportunities later in life makes for a great film. The casting is excellent. And the film's climactic moment is also realistic, showing there can be great joy in seemingly trivial outcomes.

The movie has a message. There are subtleties that, no doubt, were better explored in the book (as other reviewers here note), but were adequately explained in the movie. I don't usually care for 'feel good' movies, but this one was subtle, well-acted, had many decent, likable characters, and kept my interest. I certainly wouldn't call it - as some reviewers have - 'comedic', but it was uplifting. And when the message sinks in, it sinks in deeply (at least in my case).

Movies can never give you all the details and depth that a book can. But some movies really miss what the book was really about. That is not the case with this gentle movie about a woman who needs to find herself and her place in the world. The true spirit if the book is captured, the casting is spot on. I was busy doing something, so thought I would watch only a little since it required reading subtitles. But before I knew it, I had stopped everything else and totally focused on the movie. Just like a good book that you can't put down.