Rushing Into His Arms

Rusar I Hans Famn (Swedish)

A Svensk Filmindustri release (in Sweden) of a GotaFilm production, in association with SF and Swedish Television. (International sales: SF, Stockholm.) Produced by Christer Nilson.
Directed, written by Lennart Hjulstrom, based on the novel "Karleks pris" by Yvonne Gronin.

Monica Gunilla Nyroos
Tore Reine Brynolfsson
Older Lena Anna Bjork
Younger Lena Hanna Nyroos
Klas Alexander Lindstrom
The Mother Cecilia Nilsson
The Father Krister Henriksson
The Patient Lena Engelbrektsson
The Professor Goran Ragnerstam
The Medium Gertrud Ekblad
The Teacher Gerthi Kulle

Low-key but often very moving, "Rushing Into His Arms" is a depiction of heartfelt grief and the struggle to come to terms with the fact that someone loved is dead and gone. Subject matter won't pack theaters, but specialized distribs and festival programmers should take a look.

Pic is the first feature in 15 years by director Lennart Hjulstrom, who works mainly in legit. It's based on a novel, which in turn was inspired by its author's struggle to deal with the death of her husband, a local politician from the north of Sweden who was killed in a plane crash.

As scripted by Hjulstrom, pic deals with both the sorrow of the surviving family members and (in flashbacks) the often turbulent relationship between Monica (Gunilla Nyroos, helmer's real-life wife) and Tore (Reine Brynolfsson). Structure is a bit confusing at first, but once it becomes clear the flashbacks are Monica's memories of their life together, the approach works well.

Pic is basically about inner life, with exterior events, including the crash, not shown. But it's never dull; through his direction and excellent playing by the cast, Hjulstrom combines realism, dreams and fantasy into a bittersweet, appealing experience.

The film has its faults and, despite the short running time, could have done with further trimming. Still, it's enough to make one hope that Hjulstrom doesn't take another 15 years to appear with his next pic.

Camera (color), Roland Lundin; editor, Kerstin Eriksdotter; music, Lars-Eric Brossner; art direction, Mona Theresia Forsen; sound (Dolby SR), Per Nystrom, Michael Lechner. Reviewed at Filmstaden Theater, Malmo, Sweden, Aug. 22, 1996. Running time: 80 MIN.

Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.