Elvira Madigan [Import]

Over the years, numerous critics and movie buffs have quoted "Elvira Madigan" as one of the most beautiful films ever made (one example of praise was from Pauline Kael, a truly classic critic of blunt honesty). This writer has heard about it numerous times during the past 20 years and has tried to hunty down a copy, but to little avail.

And that's where the DVD craze comes in.

The good news with this disc. It has been restored to full glory. Freeze frame any one of these beautifully photographed images and you have a wonderful example of scene composition. The blending of nature, air, sun and romance come alive vibrantly all throughout. The sound is truly terrific with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 coming in at the right moments. This could even replace video fires during those winter nights.

But a good movie this isn't. In fact, it's a pretty bad movie. And while it's worth watching for the above imagery, the central leads (Thommy Beggren & Pia Degermark) are attractive through leave little dramatic impact to truly make this an emotional experience (I call it the curse of the two-expression acting method).

So it's based on a true story? I wonder. It was probably some clipping gathered from a modern-day newspaper and the director thinks, "Gee, this would make a great costume drama!". Boom. There you go.

You're waiting for a sense of suspense to come and grab the two main characters together, but it never comes. And the ending seems like a cop-out (oh, but we do get a Swedish kiddie choir to take us out!). You're either left in tears for the two or left in tears for investing money on this stilted cinematic experience.

I love foreign films. I loved to be moved by romance. But I also like to be challenged. I love memorable characters. I love great story & cinematography. To me, a movie experience makes you look forward to revisiting scenes and reacquainting yourselves with the characters. All of the above traits are what make a movie touch the soul.

I wish "Elvira Madigan" did that. It didn't. It is an attractive yet soulless piece of moviemaking.

But this is where you use your own discretion. Go forth.

First of all I must say that I am very glad that this movie has made it to DVD. Unfortunately this is the only film by Widerberg (who I consider being superior to Bergman among Swedish directors) that has made it into DVD. This was Widerberg's first film shot in colour and you can almost tell that it is. The cinematography is completely stunning. The film is not close to Widerberg's best films such as "Man on the roof" and "Adalen 31" but this is a good start if you want to get to know one of Swedens most underrated directors.
I was also surprised how good the print looked. I was worried that the print was going to be real bad but it was quite good and in this case the price is low so you can live with it.

In 1967, the world was ready to accept the touching tragedy of Elvira Madigan, a Danish film presented to Americans via the art-house medium which was becoming popular. It was the 60's and the world was changing. In America, hippies advocated free love and rebelled against establishment and authorities they found stifling and oppressive, particularily because of disappointment and disillusion with the unfit government, they promoted the ideals of peace and love in a time of great violence- the Vietnam War. The romance of Elvira Madigan touched Americans at this time in much the same way that Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet film did. In fact, at this time, such romantic films were popular. 1965 to 1969 saw The Sound Of Music and Doctor Zhivago make it big in the movies. This film is perfect for Valentine's Day. It's a period piece- set in 1859 and drawn from a true story but modernized to look 60's. The film stars Pia Degermark as the title heroine and Thommy Berggren as her lover, Sixten. The film has been criticized with the complaint that there is very little plot and that story is sacrificed by beautiful cinematography and visual scenery of the location- the countryside of Denmark. But there is a story. It's very easy to follow. Elvira Madigan, a tightrope walker from the circus, who is desired by many men (she might have been a courtesan) falls deeply in love with Sixten, an army officer or naval captain of some sort. Together, though their love is forbidden by society, they renounce the world and responsibility and run away together. They escape the authorities by hiding out in hotels and other spots. But in the end, they are nearly caught and there is no way out but suicide. They shoot themselves in the seclusion of the forest. The most remembered scene is the lovemaking- Sixten and Elvira eat a picnic al fresco in the country and make love in the grass. It's nothing pornographic or hardcore, in fact they're fully dressed and it's softcore but very romantic to watch. Enhancing the romance is Mozart's Piano Concerto 21 second movement andante, which was the love theme for the film.

The acting is satisfying for a story like this. Pia Degermark looks a bit like Julie Christie, a British actress who was popular at this time (she potrayed Lara in Doctor Zhivago, she appeared in Darling, a film about the swinging 60's London scene, and in historic epics as Far From The Maddening Crowd and The Go-Between). Thommy Bergren plays a fine handsome, heroic lead. It is the on-screen chemistry between the lovers that make the movie so successful. They are inseperable lovers who seem to come straight out of a 19th century novel. A great film, perfect to watch to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day.