Ronya, fille de brigands

I must have seen this film at least 50 times........It's so wonderful, that I even watch it now from time to time, just to experience that amazing feeling of joy, wonder and adventure it gave me. I don't speak any Swedish, but still I know all the lines by heart, just by seeing it so many times !

I saw it for the first time when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I was totally amazed. Amazed by this simple story about an 11-year-old girl living in a medieval castle ( surrounded by a huge forest )with a gang of hairy robbers and her stern but loving mother. Her father is the leader of the band, and regards himself as the greatest and bravest robber that ever roamed the woods. Her world is also inhabited by strange creatures, from little gnome-like creatures to flying evil birdlike witches. When her father discovers her friendship with the son of another leader of a gang of robbers ( and therefore his sworn enemy ), she leaves home and settles with Birk ( the boy ) in a cave in the woods. Together they try to survive until their fathers stop hating each other (which eventually happens).

Ronja immediately became my role-model. She showed me that girls can stand up for themselves just as boys, and that women can be just as tough as men. This simple story deals with all basic things in life : friendship, doing what you think is right, following your heart, stand up for yourself and facing the dangers and problems in life with your chin up and your back straight. The element of fantasy and all the creatures make it a great movie for children, but I believe even younger children will appreciate the story of friendship and love too, and will capture the important messages that this movie carries. I have it on tape, and I hope that I will be able to watch it some day with my daughter(s). I think this film should especially be watched by girls, since Astrid lindgren has put in it a special message for them. But apart from that, it's a film that can be watched and enjoyed by anyone between the age of 5 and 105 ! In my opinion one of the best, if not THE best children's movie ever made ! Watch it, and be a kid again. Watch it, and see the basic things that make life worth living.

10 out of 10 !

I was a college student living in Denmark when this film came out. I saw it twice in two days! I have been looking all over the Internet to find it, but I have not been able to find it in DVD or VHS (NTSC) for the US televisions systems. English subtitles would be nice. If you know of a source please feel free to contact me. Thanks!

Ronja Rövardotter is one of the most brilliant films existing. The book has always been one of my favourites and I was a little bit afraid that the film wouldn't be good enough. When I saw it for the first time I loved it from the very first moment! It's perfect! There's hardly any film which catches you that much like Ronja Rövardotter does. The music is GREAT! All these wild robbers dancing and singing (and running naked out into the snow!). Wonderful! If you haven't seen it: DO!!!! You'll get enchanted!

When I was four years old I used to pretend I was Ronja every time I'd watched this movie. My parents didn't like it, so they wouldn't let me watch it again until after I turned five. Maybe they were disturbed by the feminism. And look what happened to me. :( (OK, you don't know.) On a happier note, many years went by and the other day I saw it on TV. I still like it! Plus there are elements in it, and messages, that a five year old might not be able to understand (at least I couldn't, but I wasn't very smart). So it's for both kids and adults... Beautiful forest and all to look at. Of course, those "wild" horses looked more like super trusting Icelandics to me... ;) But I guess I'll forgive the filmmakers. (And at least they used Icelandics instead of some big shiny new breed!)

Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia, the Robber's Daughter) is possibly the most beautiful movie ever made of an Astrid Lindgren novel. This movie has it all: heart, magic, love, and it makes you feel really cosy. Very beautifully shot with an unprecedented soundtrack delivered by Björn Isfält. Sure it was made in 1984, but this one is timeless. Beautiful for young and old. This is what Hollywood never really perfected or succeeded in, a true family movie for the WHOLE family, not for just the kids. Just sad it never made it across the pond to the US. If compared with a Hollywood movie; Harry Potter from in my opinion one of the worst directors, C. Columbus, can only dream to have become such a great movie. One Hollywood movie that brought back memories of my childhood and managed to recapture some of the emotions I had with Ronja as a child, was Peter Jackson's adaption of Lord of the Rings.