Kådisbellan

This film from the early 1990's is similar to MY Life as a Dog, by Ingamar Bergman. Like Bergman's tale, this film is seen through the eyes of a young boy. The adversity he faces as the son of a Russian Jew and a Socialist are portrayed with humour and intensity. SBS did very well once again to screen this film in 1998.

I remember that when I was about ten, one of my mom's friends mentioned a movie about a boy in 1920s Sweden, and mentioned the title. Well, I've finally seen Åke Sandgren's "Kådisbellan" ("The Slingshot" in English). What an impressive piece of work. This focus on the torment suffered by the young protagonist due to his half-Jewish background and family's leftist views puts everything together perfectly. It always worth noting that Sweden in the '20s was not the social democracy that we now know; the country was just as stratified as the rest of Europe. A general strike in 1931 brought to power a leftist government that established the social programs that Sweden's enjoyed ever since.

Anyway, the movie tells the story perfectly. Seeing what the boy goes through, it's no wonder that he starts doing what he does. Definitely see it.

Tomas Norström (the boxing trainer) died of cancer earlier this month.

Yet another great movie set in the 50s about growing up. It just says it all. it is impossible to break the spirit of this young boy, how hard the xenophobic school and society try. An important and beautiful film indeed.

Kadisbellan(The Slingshot)is perhaps the best foreign film of 1993. Great story, acting, and many funny moments.

Slingshot is the touching, humorous tale of a Swedish boy in the 20's, from a socialist, jewish family, and his resolve against life's persecutions.

His persecutions include a sadistic, fascist school instructor, overbearing parents, a bully brother, the police, and the daily maturation of a boy to a young man.

How Roland handles and endures these problems is the heart of the film. His solutions are clever and sometimes humorous, but all based out of Roland's steadfast self awareness. We have all walked along the same path.

The cast is super, and each character is extremely real.

Outstanding kudos to Jespar Salen, who plays Roland. His acting and the faces he utilizes make the viewer actually feel his hurts, his inquisitiveness, and his triumphs.

A special role also played by Stellen Sarsgard, as Roland's socialist father, who pontificates daily to any in hearing range. Memorable is his visit to a Russian orthopedic specialist to end his sciatica.

There are many characters and side plots, most end as ours would, but Roland's experience with a young prostitute ends tragically.

The Slingshot gets its title from Roland's ingenuity. His mother sells forbidden condoms, and Roland absconds with some and fashions slingshots out of them for sale to classmates. The slingshot is just one of his many inventions.

Another enjoyable benefit is the quality of the film as a period piece.

"Slingshot" is a gem: beautiful, rare and one in a million.