La chorale du bonheur

I am not going to spoil the contents to anyone, who has not yet watched this humble masterpiece by Kay Pollak.

A world famous conductor brilliantly played by Michael Nyqvist seeks peace from stress by moving back to his childhood village. The villagers, who has followed the genius in silence, are slowly tempting him to share of his greatness.

Each role in this movie, has a very specific purpose and shows a remarkable potential in each of the actors playing their own chord in short but precise words, a symphony of love.

Not love in the sense of relationship, but in the tone of the spirit deeply buried within each of the characters, each revealing their own present story, their needs, their skeletons, desires and much more.

I shall not forget to mention, the two main parts played by Frida Hallgren and Michael Nyqvist, whose dramas are played in unforgettable harmonies of emotional feedback. They touch each other with a pain connected in their own disability to love themselves.

Michael Nyqvist is really put to the test here in a very difficult setup, in one of those movies that either end up as catastrophic or fantastic. And fantastic it became from start to end, not one second less or more than enough, you are left with a feeling of change and a taste for more.

To this day, definitely one of the best movies I have had the pleasure of watching.

It's interesting, actually odd I think, to see this movie classified here as Comedy first, then Drama. While there are a few comedic moments – as always in real life – most of this story centers upon the drama surrounding the psycho-social awakening of the central protagonist, Daniel Dareus (Michael Nyqvist), a violin maestro and concert conductor of international standing.

The awakening specifically concerns Daniel's search for love, something he's been unable to achieve since his teens, when his mother died tragically as he watched – an episode that occurs in the first series of establishing scenes and voice-over. Hence, from the get-go, we know that Daniel is a fragile and emotionally disturbed genius who really needs help.

Humans have a penchant for returning to the past for answers – a typical and often quite sensible approach to unresolved psychological problems, as most know. Daniel is no different: he goes back to his home village where he was cruelly bullied when very young, memories of which still haunt him.

There, he buys his old school house: long left abandoned, unused, dilapidated and a metaphor for his own emotional state. Significantly, he begins the process of repairing the building and, tentatively at first, also reaching out to the local people, all of whom are wondering what brought such a famous personage to such a nondescript place that seems to be encased in snow and ice for most of the year. In particular, the local church pastor asks him to help out the local choir.

Initially demurring because he's shy of human contact, Daniel eventually agrees after meeting the woman who manages a local post office/convenience store, Lena (Frida Hallgren) and with whom he gradually builds a romantic relationship, a crucial step in his self-rehabilitation. Along that way, moreover, Daniel also gets to know the various members of the choir and, to a large extent, the nature of their own insecurities, fears, troubles and doubts.

Hence, there are various sub-plots concerning those choir members, all of whom provide different degrees of support and which assists Daniel with his now obsessive need to create a truly cohesive choir that can sing in absolute tonal harmony. Why? Because, not only is music the first and most basic language of humanity, it is – in Daniel's view – the only way to truly and effectively communicate with another human at a 'spiritual' level.

The latter might be a bit of a stretch for some viewers, but it is illustrated in perhaps one of the most original choir recitals you'll ever see – anywhere – when the whole choir travels to a contest in Austria to compete internationally. Only the hardest of hearts within the worst cynics will shrug and walk away from that and Daniel's achievement.

There are wonderful touches of irony and pathos when we learn about all the choir members as they, with Daniel's help, discover their new strengths and knowledge about each other. As always, some lose, some win. But, that's life, no? Which raises a fundamental issue: at the end, is Daniel a winner or loser? You can judge when you see this movie. All I can say is that it is fitting, win or lose.

The production, from Denmark and Sweden, is top rate. The frozen north is captured beautifully. The acting is simply outstanding with the only familiar face for me being Nyqvist (and I've seen many Danish/Swedish films – but not enough as yet, obviously); the cast, when singing together, looked as though they truly enjoyed their work. And the sound track and singing are just perfect, for me.

Nominated for Best Foreign Film for 2005, it lost out to a Spanish entry, The Sea Inside, a true-life biopic that I've seen and liked. From my perspective, however, this one is much better.

Give it eight out of ten. Recommended for all.

February 27, 2012.

I really loved this movie and so did the audience that I saw it with in Los Angeles. After the film, lots of people were crying and saying how much the film had affected them. I can see why it was such a huge hit in its homeland, Sweden. The film is masterfully directed and each character brilliantly drawn so that by the end you really know these people and care about them. The music is very natural and the main song in the film quite heartbreaking but inspiring. Would definitely recommend this film for everyone to see - even people who don't normally go to subtitled films. Definitely deserved the Oscar Nomination because of the profound themes of the film reflected without pretension in a small-town community with everyday people. It is a film that unites us in this divided world and shows us the potential of the human spirit. A MUST SEE!

Back to the roots with "like it is in heaven" - what are the real values of life? These Swedes carve out a message that appeals to every heart. We've seen it twice now in a cinema packed to the last seat: love pure and joy within the music of a choir that's simple, yet full of power once everyone finds his or her inner tone.

From the glitter of fame to the school of of his youth, now empty and ready to be adapted as his new home after collapsing on stage, Daniel wants to start listening and is drawn into the lives of the simple, warm and rough people of the North.

He wins the hearts with music and gains the capacity to love and be loved unconditionally.

Don't go see it if you've been normed to Hollywood. This stuff contains no extras, just your laughter, your compassion, your tears!

This film, recently voted as an audience favorite at the 2005 Palm Springs International Film Festival, is inspiring and moving. A famous conductor, forced to retire by illness, returns to the small village of his birth to become the leader of the church choir, and finally find fulfillment in his music. Drawing on Sweedish traits of keeping things within oneself and of the insular character of a small Swedish village, this film develops each of its characters well. superbly directed, acted and sung, it brought tears to many eyes, and smiles to all. Hopefully it will find distribution in the United States.

If you can, see it!