Schwedisch für Fortgeschrittene

The premise is a Thelma and Louise style film about friendship between mature, but different women. We need films like that, but this one hasn't got the depth (even though it tries with a serious piano score and all). It treats heavy themes like divorce very lightly, but doesn't go fully into lighthearted comedy either. There's too much conflict and shouting for that. A conflict between a mother and her supportive daughter arise out of nowhere and gets resolved out of the blue later on. The writer shows little insight in why the characters behave the way they do.

The plot doesn't have any strong direction or development, it just meanders and throws in a couple of surprises. The film would have been etter as a full-fledged comedy like Smala Sussie. (It treads the waters, so why not dive all in?)

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this film. Great acting and writing and directing!

All of the characters were well fleshed out, and fun to 'live' with on screen. Moving and touching at times, and funny and good witted at others..

It's such a treat to see what's happening in other countries film wise! I tend to think Hollywood no longer has the last word on film anymore! Many other writers/directors/actors in many other countries are constantly coming out with engaging and fun movies! I so enjoy to see other parts of the world and their homes and culture...

Great film making!

In Stockholm, the gynecologist Elisabeth "Lisa" Staf (Helena Bergström) receives a ticket from the car-park attendant Gudrun Nyman (Maria Lundqvist) when she parks her car in a forbidden place. Lisa justifies telling that she is going to the wedding of her son and she is late; however Gudrun does not accept the excuse and they offend each other. In the dinner party, Elisabeth's husband tells to the guests that they are divorcing.

Gudrun is a shy widow that stays at home, and her daughter Liselotte (Erica Braun) convinces her to go to her gynecologist; surprisingly she is Lisa and they become friends. Lisa is independent and likes to dance and the nightlife, and she convinces Gudrun to go out with her to the Heartbreak Hotel to drink and dance. When Gudrun meets her former husband Åke Nyman (Claes Månsson), the relationship between the two women is affected.

"Heartbreak Hotel" is a silly but entertaining Swedish comedy about the friendship of two forty and something year-old women with different temperaments. The plot is a kind of combination between "Sex and the City" with "Thelma & Louise" and the result is a pleasant comedy. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Vida Começa aos 40" ("The Life Begins at 40")

As always Nutley is also showing off his by 2006 still sexy wife Helena Bergstrom in one of the leading parts. This of course sounds repetative and it is but to me Colin is a genious when it comes to directing swedish actors in just being swedish.

However this movie does nothing for me so the 5 star grade is only for the fact that it is just average. In one way it should as it is a story of middle-age bitterness and feeling your life is already lived but still wanting to find love and kicks to change that feeling.

With that said the kind of bars the two female main characters go to says exactly nothing to me except for getting picked up by cougars a couple of times in my youth and as I never been married or had any kids Nutley shoots way off me as a target.

The movie for sure shows a Stockholm I know even if I haven't done that city in decades even if I've been out on the town maybe 4-5 times during the last 15-20 years but then it's been to rock bars or in connection to some ice-hockay game and maybe double that amount to local bars without any of the life shown here.

Also this movie shows city life for two middle-aged women and for me as a very male man living far out in the woods of Sweden now for 10+ years I can't connect to the characters at all so I really can't recommend it to anyone like me.

I'm a 29 years male but still found this movie one of the better ones I've seen lately. I must say I'm really surprised. It touches your heart and u really feel joy and pain with these two people like I very rarely feel watching movies. Seldom have I laughed so much in a movie without jokes. U can tell its a director that knows what hes doing. So even though older women will get the most out of this movie, don't think for a moment the rest of us cant enjoy it.

So don't be afraid to say, hey guys, lets go and watch Heartbreak Hotel! And any1 with a mother, buy a ticket as a present and get her to the movies right this moment!