Touches You

Thanks for the memories!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Klaus Haro's "Elina -- As If I Wasn't There" can proudly stand alongside classics about childhood such as France's "Forbidden Games", The Czech Republic's "The Elementary School", and Japan's "Muddy River". Set in Northern Sweden, this remarkable movie focuses on the inner agony of Elina (Natalie Minnivek), a smart young girl who has recently lost her father, a Finn, and is recovering from tuberculosis. When she starts a new school, the stubborn child, who is a sharp chip off her father's block, clashes with Tora Holm (Bibi Andersson), the school's most senior teacher. Not only is the clash of these two females a clash of wills, it is a clash of cultures. The rigid Holm forbids Elina and other students from speaking Finnish and enforces a Swedish-only language rule. Elina rebels against her teacher and takes emotional refuge in the bog outside the town where she believes her father still resides. The bog is a mysterious, wild, and beautiful place, retaining memories of the times Elina spent with her beloved father. The film's simple story is an effective frame on which to hang a number of cleverly explored issues such as the majority's treatment of minorities, poverty, tolerance, and Swedish identity (the Old and the New). First-time director Haro's grasp of the material is impressive and naturalistic. Not a shot is wasted. Not a single emotion is false. The photography of the rural exteriors and interiors is breathtaking and transporting; this is pure cinema with something to say and an original way to say it. Tuomas Kantelinen's musical score enhances and enriches the physical beauty and the delicate inner world of characters we come to know and understand. When I watch films like this, I fall in love with cinema all over again.

Tiny Swedish gem. In the 50es, in the desolate Norrbotten, Finnish-speaking kids are enrolled in the strict Swedish education system as personified by Bibi Andersson's extremely uptight Ms. Holm. Imagine Shirley MacLaine in her most uncompromising appirition – and then some. Bibi is marvellous as the given villain here, but on the other hand the part does not give her much else to work with than parading a never-yielding stone face. Nevertheless, to this viewer, this film adds miles to her reputation in terms of versatility. A life and death power struggle soon materialises between Holm and desperately cute pupil Elina, a true wolf in sheeps clothing if ever you saw one. The story is paper-thin but razor sharp and grossly engaging. ***SPOILER*** The standoff culminates in that familiar scene from Dead Poets' Society where all the kids unite in rebellion, only in this movie it actually serves a purpose. My regrets only go to the fact that secondary story lines were not explored, as a possible romance was only vaguely indicated, leaving the movie with a quite narrow outlook. You will never see this one at Blockbuster, but if you do, grab it.

This a film that actually moved me. First of all because it's a Finnish film. And also a good one=) Second of all because it is about a minority in society. It's quite interesting that today Swedish is a minority in Finland.. So if a film like this was done today it could be about an other minority.. many things have changed since the fifties..One thing that really spoke to me was that the girl was so determined and brave to always do the right thing. I wish I had her courage!It is a fantastic movie, worth seeing..For everybody who wants something to think about.-Lotta

Avoid this piece of crap at all cost. I just sat thru this awful film in a local theatre. I wanted to leave after 15 minutes due to panic attacks and nausea. But i was there with a friend and felt obligated to stay thru-out. The story is non-existant, the plot is nowhere to be found. There is no conflict (or problem) to be solved. The actors are bad e.t.c....We follow a little girl called ELINA, her sister, her mother anda strict schoolteacher (Bibi Andersson). This is a parody on film-making, and a mockery of interesting stories about life.If the "bad teacher" vs "good student" interests you, I would strongly recommend watching: "Hets", "Ole, Dole, Doff", "Zero de Conduite", instead of this awful movie.My rating: 0/10 AVOID AT ALL COST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)