Elina: As If I Wasn't There
Encyclopedia
Elina: As If I Wasn't There is a 2002 film directed by Klaus Härö
Klaus Härö
Klaus Härö, born 31 March 1971 in Porvoo , Finland, Finland-Swedish film director. In 2004, Härö won Finland's State Prize for Art.-Films:*Letters to Father Jacob *The New Mankind *Mother of Mine...

 and based on a novel by Kerstin Johansson i Backe.

Plot

In the 1950s, nine-year-old Elina lives with her younger siblings and her mother in the Torne Valley
Torne Valley
The Torne Valley or Torne River Valley lies at the border of Sweden and Finland. In 2009 it became one of the Sub-regions of Finland. It is named after the Torne River flowing through the valley and into the Gulf of Bothnia...

 in the north of Sweden, near the Finnish border. Her father, whom she loved dearly, died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...

 a few years ago. Elina finds consolation in wandering out on the dangerous marshlands to have imaginary conversations with her dead father. Elina also contracted tuberculosis, but recovered. Because she was ill for so long, Elina is obliged to repeat a whole year at school. However, since she missed so much schooling as a result, she has been put in a new class with a different teacher, the strict Tora Holm. Tora Holm sees it as her mission to protect her pitiable charges from the pitfalls of life, believing that only those who speak perfect Swedish have any chance of a happy and successful life. Elina's family belongs to a Finnish-speaking minority frowned upon by a staunch schoolmistress who starts hounding Elina for speaking Finnish in class and questioning her authority. Elina's mother, sister, and a liberal young male teacher all try to mediate the ensuing battle of wills between Elina and Miss Holm. Especially when Elina exercises the sense of justice she learned from her father and stands up for one of her schoolmates. Although nobody is willing to take her side, little Elina proves far stronger than teacher Tora Holm reckoned. The conflict comes to a head when Elina flees to the dangerous moor
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...

.

Cast

Actor Role
Natalie Minnevik  Elina
Bibi Andersson
Bibi Andersson
Bibi Andersson is a Swedish actress.-Early life:Bibi Andersson was born as Berit Elisabeth Andersson in Kungsholmen, Stockholm, the daughter of Karin , a social worker, and Josef Andersson, a businessman...

 
Tora Holm
Henrik Rafaelsen  Einar Björk
Tind Soneby  Irma
Marjaana Maijala  Marta
Peter Rogers  Anton
Jarl Lindblad  Veikko Niemi
Zorro Svärdendahl Isak (Elina's father)
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK