Such Is Life

(SANT AR LIVET) ((SWEDISH))

By GUNNAR REHLIN

A Svensk Filmindustri release (in Sweden) of a Sweetwater production, in association with Svensk Filmindustri, SVT Goteborg, SF Norge and Nordisk Film & TV-Fund. (International sales: Sweetwater, Stockholm.) Produced, directed, written by Colin Nutley.
 

Tin-Tin Matsson Helena Bergstrom Siv Matsson Lena Nyman Harald Knoop Sverre Anker Ousdal Paul Karlsson Jakob Eklund Stef Backman Philip Zanden Roffe Nordstrom Sven-Bertil Taube Olle Sundqvist Rolf Lassgard Harald's Colleague Per Jansen Norwegian Preacher Lasse Kolstad Harald's Father Arne Thomas Olsen

With: Michael Nyqvist, Denize Karabuda, Harald Hamrell, Pia Johansson, Jonas Falk, Niklas Falk, Robert Panzenbock, Ove Christian Owe, Stefan Larsson, Per Svensson, Platte Hald.

(Swedish & Norwegian dialogue)

After the disappointing "House of Angels: The Second Summer," British-born Swedish-based helmer Colin Nutley is back on form with "Such Is Life," another revealing look at Sweden and the Swedes. This black but funny comedy about a woman approaching 30 should generate healthy B.O. on home turf, and could also travel quite well, thanks to the universal appeal of its themes.

Pic is in many ways a companion piece to "Black Jack," Nutley's best film to date, in which he looked at the often melancholy relations among Swedes, and how alcohol and infidelity can ruin even the best intentions. "Such Is Life" is funnier, but it's the kind of humor that freezes the smile on your face.

Nutley's regular leading actress (and real-life wife) Helena Bergstrom plays Tin-Tin, a traveling bar-piano player. Her dreams are two -- the chance to play at the prestigious bar at Stockholm's Grand Hotel, and to be married before she is 30. When the film opens, she's two weeks away from that birthday.

Tin-Tin is surrounded by men: She lives with Paul (Jakob Eklund), the charming but wild host of a radio show, "Such Is Life," to which listeners call in with their relationship problems; her cynical manager, Stef (Philip Zanden), lusts after her; and so does married hotelier Olle (Rolf Lassgard). She also meets a Norwegian industrialist, Harald (Sverre Anker Ousdal), and, when he proposes, she -- much to her own surprise -- accepts. The wedding is scheduled to be held at a small church by a Norwegian fjord, and events quickly take a turn into black and very funny farce.

Others in Tin-Tin's life include her estranged parents. Her mother (Lena Nyman) is a man-eater, while her father (Sven-Bertil Taube) is always away traveling.

Although pic is a bit long at over two hours -- the first 20-25 minutes could stand some trimming -- overall it's a fine piece of filmmaking, with writer-director Nutley once again taking a clear-eyed outsider's view of his adopted country and its inhabitants. These are people who smile on the outside but deep inside are unhappy, who seem willing to try adultery just for the sake of it, and who never seem content to stay with what they have. It's bleak subject-matter but told in a darkly humorous way.

Lenser Peter Mokrosinski (taking over from Nutley's regular cameraman, Jens Fischer) has come up with a stylish look for the picture. Editing by Perry Schaffer is sharp, and Marie Fredriksson, of the w.k. rock group Roxette, has written an earcatching theme song.

Performances are all tops, even though Nyman playing a sexually voracious character has almost become a cliche. Lassgard is convincing as the love-struck Olle, Zanden is delightful as the cynical Stef, and Eklund has the right combination of cocky arrogance and sadness to make Paul believable.

However, the center of the pic is Bergstrom, a highly photogenic actress who dominates the frame whenever she's on. Nutley knows this, and uses her as much as he can.

Camera (color), Peter Mokrosinski; editor, Perry Schaffer; music, Marie Fredriksson; art direction, Lasse Westfelt; sound (Dolby SR Digital), Eddie Axberg, Lasse Liljeholm. Reviewed at the Saga Theater, Stockholm, Oct. 19, 1996. Running time: 126 MIN.