En kärlekshistoria

A Swedish Love Story
A bright summer’s day in Sweden. Fifteen-year-old Pär visits his grandfather in hospital along with his family. They all go on an outing to a little cafe in the park. There, 14-year-old Annika and her family are celebrating the birthday of her nanny, Eva. The two families from very different social classes coincidentally find themselves at neighbouring tables. Waiting in the queue, Annika and Pär first notice each other and then repeatedly share secret glances. Amidst the gorgeous landscape of an idyllic Swedish summer, the two adolescents fall tentatively in love. The pair create their own world beyond social barriers and in stark contrast to the dysfunctional relationships, disillusionment and world-weariness of the adults around them. The impressive visual language perfectly reflects the tenderness of the story in Roy Andersson’s sunny, optimistic feature film debut, which premiered at the 1970 Berlinale.
by Roy Andersson
with Ann-Sofie Kylin, Rolf Sohlman, Anita Lindblom, Bertil Norström, Lennart Tellfelt, Margreth Weivers
Sweden 1970 Swedish 114’

With

  • Ann-Sofie Kylin (Annika)
  • Rolf Sohlman (Pär)
  • Anita Lindblom (Eva)
  • Bertil Norström (John)
  • Lennart Tellfelt (Lasse)
  • Margreth Weivers (Elsa)

Crew

Written and Directed by Roy Andersson
Cinematography Jörgen Persson
Editing Kalle Boman
Music Björn Isfalt
Sound Design Owe Svensson
Art Director Lars Wallén
Costumes Per Lekang
Make-Up Elisabeth Orrheim
Production Manager Waldemar Bergendahl
Producer Rolf Larsson

Produced by

AB Europa Film

Roy Andersson

Born in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1943. One year after he graduated from the Swedish Film School, his debut film A Swedish Love Story screened at the Berlinale in 1970. After several years as a commercials director, he founded the Studio 24 production company and directed a number of short films. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence won the Golden Lion at Venice, where he also received the Silver Lion for Best Director for About Endlessness in 2019.

Filmography (selection)

1970 En kärlekshistoria (A Swedish Love Story) 1975 Giliap 1987 Någonting har hänt (Something Happened); short film 1991 Härlig är jorden (World of Glory); short film 2000 Sånger från andra våningen (Songs from the Second Floor) 2007 Du levande (You, The Living) 2014 En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (A Pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence) 2019 Om det oändliga (About Endlessness)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020