It is a performances centric movie

An Exercise In Nonsense

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The Swedish film Under solen was shown in the U.S. with the title Under the Sun (1998). It was directed by Colin Nutley. The film is set in rural Sweden in 1956.Rolf Lassgård plays Olof, a gentle 40-year-old farmer who has lived alone since his mother's death. The only way he can think of to meet a woman is to put an ad for a housekeeper in a newspaper. A woman answers the ad, and eventually comes to the farm. Helena Bergström plays the beautiful Ellen Lind, who has never been on a farm, and would seem to be an unlikely candidate for the job. However, for her own reasons, she takes the position and appears to do it well. Certain important facts become clear early in the movie. Olof isn't stupid, but he can't read. That's never explained. Were there truly people in rural Sweden at the time who hadn't been taught to read? Possibly Olof had gone to school, but was dyslexic.Olof's inability to read is a key plot element, because this disability allows his friend Erik to take advantage of Olof's trusting nature. Erik--played by Johan Widerberg--has worked on a cruise ship and is far more worldly than Olof. I didn't think Widerberg carried off the tricky job of being Olof's trusted friend. He portrayed Erik as obviously devious and scheming, and, in reality, I think Olof would have seen through this supposed friendship. Naturally, the plot produces an inevitable triangle, although not in the obvious way one would expect. That's what makes the movie interesting.Some points worth noting: Gunilla Röör plays the newspaper receptionist who helps Olof with the ad. She's an interesting actor, and I wish she had been given more than just this cameo role at the beginning of the film."Under the sun" sounds like a French or Italian movie--there's not that much sunshine in Sweden. However, the title refers to the Biblical quotation, "There is nothing new under the sun."Every so often, director Nutley cuts away to a fighter jet performing maneuvers in the sky above the farm. We would expect a bird, not a fighter jet. (Once, it is a bird, but only once.) There's an interesting thread on IMDb about the symbolism of the fighter jet.The musical score is beautiful, but the music is Celtic, not Swedish. There are some similarities between Celtic and Swedish music, but why not use Swedish music?We saw this film on VHS (believe it or not), although I think it's available on DVD. It would work somewhat better on a large screen, because of the beauty of the sky and the countryside. It's an unusual movie, and possibly not for everyone, but I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Love story. Subtle, nice and warm. A spring story. Delicate nuances, basic gestures and lost feelings. In fact, pieces of a world's definition. A woman and two men. In summer. A house. And some words. A film about solitude and search of happiness. Rolf Lassgard in a touching role. Helena Bergstrom as a sensitive servant for who the past is great shadow. A film with apple pie taste and spices flavor. Show of modest life and small desires, delicate emotions and childish air. Time as water of memories.Memories as pieces of personal game. Words like the fly of silence. A way. And some words. Then, the peace. As bread, warm summer, letters of a message - testimony of old desire. All under the sun of a lost land.

"Under the Sun" is a bucolic, warm, charming, and sentimental story about a 40 year old Swedish farmer who hires an attractive housekeeper who tends to somewhat more than cooking and cleaning. He's illiterate with an inheritance, she's smart and pretty, and he has a young male friend who may be after both his money and the woman. A lovely bit of romantic melodrama laced with humor and rustic beauty which could steal your heart or make you gag depending on your taste. Recommended for more mature sentimentalists. (B)

This is the first Swedish movie I've ever seen. Though I cannot understand the language, I enjoy the music and picture in it. And i like the picture very much. So peaceful, like heaven. Great movie.