If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I bought this movie sight unseen and was pleasantly surprised. While it's storyline is similar to something like "The Secret of My Success" (small town person with ambition finds a life and success in the big city) and it's nostalgia factor is reminiscent of "The Wedding Singer", it manages to be warmer, more charming and ultimately more memorable than either of those films.Furthermore, the soundtrack is just great. Alphaville, Roxy Music, ELO - and new songs by the lead character's band that are good enough to coax me into sending away for the CD.It's a shame this hasn't made it to the U.S. I think it would do well here, despite the small inclusion of a few Swedish particulars that might need some quick explaining for some (particularly references to Sweden's social support system) and quick shot of a guy's weener - uptight folks can't handle that here. It also has a very American feel to it - and it's nice to see that we're one of many cultures that regrets some of its fashion choices in the past decades.Distributors! Pick this one up! It's got hit written all over it!

I liked this movie and I found the actors/actress and the plot to be great. OK, it really brings back the memories of my own youth (14 and a punk back in 1984) but yet I'm trying to be objective. Great to see new good actors/actress and I hope to see most of them in the future (well I guess that Kjell will always find his way into your living room ? ..). A movie about teenagers may easily stumble in a lot of "klyshor" (translate that one for me??) but I think this movie held them off in a great way. Check it out.. What? 10 lines required... huh, what, am I writing a novel or what? Well, the movies surroundings and props are correct and accurate for the 80s and its always great to see an authentic "hocky frilla".

It is 1984 and Abra is 19 years old and tired of the small village she lives in. However, events take her to the big town Gothenburg and adventures. The movie is charming and the characters sympathetic. For us who where teenagers in the mid 80's the movie is a journey back in time. All the groupings are there; punk-rockers, synthers, hard-rockers... and the soundtrack contains lots of representative music. The actors are all new faces in Swedish film and make a terrific job. Malmros has as always succeeded well with direction and camera. This is a true feel-good movie.Trivia: At the premiere in Gothenburg, the director Ulf Malmros was knocked down by a man who thought he had stood model for the nasty barman in the movie.

If you are familiar with Ulf Malmros' previous works, you know that a stylish movie about music and set in the 80s, is just up his alley. Malmros is without doubt Sweden's best director when it comes to using music to create mood. For Tjenare Kungen, he has been given an historically big budget to buy tunes for. The result is - of course - as good as anyone could have hoped. With everything from Alphaville to Thåström, Tjenare Kungen swiftly transfers us back to 1984. The entire movie is in fact an orgy in everything that made the 80s so special (?). A lot of time has been put into little - but oh so important - details like clothes and hair-cuts.As with Smala Sussie, Ulf Malmros has once again found a bunch of very talented debutants. Josefin Neldén (Abra) and Cecilia Wallin (Millan) are both extremely believable and lovable as the two girls forming a punk band. When you leave the theatre, it is impossible not to have a little crush on Abra.Tjenare Kungen is not ground-breaking in any way. It is a simple story that follows a formula proved to be good. It is not as heart-warmening as Den bästa sommaren, and the dialogue isn't as quirky and hilarious as in Smala Sussie. However, when you leave the theatre, you do it with a big smile on your lips. Knowing that you have just had one of your best cinematic moments this year.