Film Review: 'Expectations' 'Expectations'
Daniel Bergman weighs in with his second feature film, based on a collection of stories about life in contemporary Sweden by Reidar Jonsson, the author of "My Life as a Dog".
This ambitious effort, which in its use of multiple plot lines and characters is clearly inspired by the films of Robert Altman, is entertaining but never really coheres into a satisfying whole.
The picture seems less likely than its predecessor ("Sunday's Children", the screenplay for which was written by Daniel's father, Ingmar) to achieve significant art house business. It recently received its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival, where it was part of the official competition.
The necessarily episodic plot line involves several stories, including that of a young man who returns home to his parents after several years, only to discover that his father is planning on selling their fishing boat; a young girl who is caught in the middle between her separating parents; a strange hermit who virtually imprisons a young Polish couple; a suicidal man who decides to come to terms with the daughter he abandoned years ago; and a married man who weaves an elaborate web of lies in order to have an affair with a successful businesswoman. A recurring character in the film is a beautiful blond woman who serves as a sort of mystical figure.
The stories vary in interest and quality of execution, and the film is not entirely successful in making the whole greater than the sum of the parts. Still, the dialogue, characterizations and situations more than hold one's interest, and the director provides a warmth and texture to the proceedings that suggest the director has inherited some of his father's talent, if not his gloominess. Indeed, "Expectations", despite its often fatalistic story lines, is a remarkably buoyant and at times joyous piece of work.
EXPECTATIONS
A Svensk Filindustri production
Director Daniel Bergman
Screenplay Reidar Jonsson
Producers Waldemar Gerendahl,
Kerstin Bonnier
Cinematography Esa Vuorinen
Editor Darek Hodor
Music Nick Frisk
Color/stereo
Cast:
Margareta Lena Endre
Allan Hans Klinga
Eva Gunnel Lindblom
Carita Anki Liden
Jonny Nicke Olund
Lisa Cajsa-Lisa Ejemyr
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
This ambitious effort, which in its use of multiple plot lines and characters is clearly inspired by the films of Robert Altman, is entertaining but never really coheres into a satisfying whole.
The picture seems less likely than its predecessor ("Sunday's Children", the screenplay for which was written by Daniel's father, Ingmar) to achieve significant art house business. It recently received its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival, where it was part of the official competition.
The necessarily episodic plot line involves several stories, including that of a young man who returns home to his parents after several years, only to discover that his father is planning on selling their fishing boat; a young girl who is caught in the middle between her separating parents; a strange hermit who virtually imprisons a young Polish couple; a suicidal man who decides to come to terms with the daughter he abandoned years ago; and a married man who weaves an elaborate web of lies in order to have an affair with a successful businesswoman. A recurring character in the film is a beautiful blond woman who serves as a sort of mystical figure.
The stories vary in interest and quality of execution, and the film is not entirely successful in making the whole greater than the sum of the parts. Still, the dialogue, characterizations and situations more than hold one's interest, and the director provides a warmth and texture to the proceedings that suggest the director has inherited some of his father's talent, if not his gloominess. Indeed, "Expectations", despite its often fatalistic story lines, is a remarkably buoyant and at times joyous piece of work.
EXPECTATIONS
A Svensk Filindustri production
Director Daniel Bergman
Screenplay Reidar Jonsson
Producers Waldemar Gerendahl,
Kerstin Bonnier
Cinematography Esa Vuorinen
Editor Darek Hodor
Music Nick Frisk
Color/stereo
Cast:
Margareta Lena Endre
Allan Hans Klinga
Eva Gunnel Lindblom
Carita Anki Liden
Jonny Nicke Olund
Lisa Cajsa-Lisa Ejemyr
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 16/09/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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