Under the Sun (film)
Encyclopedia
Under the Sun is a 1998
Swedish
film directed by Colin Nutley
, adapted from the short story The Little Farm by H. E. Bates
. The film stars Rolf Lassgård
, Helena Bergstrom
(who is married to director Nutley), and Johan Widerberg
. Set in Sweden in the mid-1950’s, the film was nominated for the 1999 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
.
which includes the language, ‘for every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’
After the death of his mother over a decade ago, Olof (Rolf Lassgård), an illiterate farmer, lives alone on his family farm. Olof can't read, so his young friend Erik (Johan Widerberg)—who has been a sailor and who claims to have known various American celebrities while staying in the United States of America and to have bedded hundreds of women—handles all the business of the farm. One day Olof puts out an ad for a woman in a local newspaper, asking applicants to include a photograph. The beautiful woman from outside of the village responds; Ellen (Helena Bergstrom).
As Ellen takes over more and more of the business of the farm, the farmer and the newcomer fall in love. Erik becomes convinced she is a gold-digger who is after Olof’s money. Erik and Ellen quarrel, and Erik threatens to ‘find out where you come from and who you are.’ When he does find out that Ellen is married, he implies to Ellen that he will expose her.
Ellen leaves the farm, leaving behind a note to Olof in which she discloses that she is already married, and apologizes for having ‘betrayed his trust.’ She says she must go back and ‘sort things out’ and closes by saying that she will always love Olof. Olof asks Erik to read the note to him. At first, Erik refuses. When he does read the note, he alters the text by inserting a sentence saying that Erik has repaid some money he borrowed from Olof, and that Ellen has taken the payments for herself. He also omits Ellen’s declaration of eternal love for Olof.
Erik then announces he is going back to sea, on the SS Andrea Doria
, and departs.
Some time passes, and one day in the fall (the characters are wearing coats and Olof is bird hunting) when Olof is on a road, a passing car stops and from it steps Ellen. Olof has Ellen’s note with him, and asks that she read it to him, confessing for the first time that he cannot read. Ellen reads the note, and asks if Olof wants her back. The two are reunited and the film ends.
1998 in film
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Swedish
Cinema of Sweden
Swedish cinema is known as producing many critically acclaimed movies, and during the 20th century was the most prominent of Scandinavia. This is largely due to the popularity and prominence of the directors Ingmar Bergman, Victor Sjöström, and more recently Lasse Hallström and Lukas...
film directed by Colin Nutley
Colin Nutley
Colin Nutley is an English director successful in the Swedish film industry.-Career:Nutley went to Portsmouth Art College and began his career in British television as a graphic designer. He then turned to drama and documentary film-making for ITV, BBC and Channel 4...
, adapted from the short story The Little Farm by H. E. Bates
H. E. Bates
Herbert Ernest Bates, CBE , better known as H. E. Bates, was an English writer and author. His best-known works include Love for Lydia, The Darling Buds of May, and My Uncle Silas.-Early life:...
. The film stars Rolf Lassgård
Rolf Lassgård
Rolf Lassgård is a Swedish actor.-Biography:A keen amateur ice hockey player in his youth, Lassgård also joined theatre teacher Ingemar Lind's Institute for the Performing Arts in the village of Storhögen outside Östersund. He then attended the Stage School in Malmö from 1975-78...
, Helena Bergstrom
Helena Bergström
Helena Bergström is a Swedish actress.The granddaughter of legendary Swedish actor Olof Widgren and the daughter of Hans Bergström and Kerstin Widgren . Bergström is married to Colin Nutley and is known for playing the female lead in many of his films...
(who is married to director Nutley), and Johan Widerberg
Johan Widerberg
Johan Widerberg, born March 16, 1974 in Stockholm, is a Swedish actor appearing in numerous Swedish films and TV series.- Biography :Johan Widerberg is the son of Swedish director Bo Widerberg....
. Set in Sweden in the mid-1950’s, the film was nominated for the 1999 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
.
Plot
The film begins with a voice over quotation of the verse from the Book of EcclesiatesEcclesiastes
The Book of Ecclesiastes, called , is a book of the Hebrew Bible. The English name derives from the Greek translation of the Hebrew title.The main speaker in the book, identified by the name or title Qoheleth , introduces himself as "son of David, king in Jerusalem." The work consists of personal...
which includes the language, ‘for every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’
After the death of his mother over a decade ago, Olof (Rolf Lassgård), an illiterate farmer, lives alone on his family farm. Olof can't read, so his young friend Erik (Johan Widerberg)—who has been a sailor and who claims to have known various American celebrities while staying in the United States of America and to have bedded hundreds of women—handles all the business of the farm. One day Olof puts out an ad for a woman in a local newspaper, asking applicants to include a photograph. The beautiful woman from outside of the village responds; Ellen (Helena Bergstrom).
As Ellen takes over more and more of the business of the farm, the farmer and the newcomer fall in love. Erik becomes convinced she is a gold-digger who is after Olof’s money. Erik and Ellen quarrel, and Erik threatens to ‘find out where you come from and who you are.’ When he does find out that Ellen is married, he implies to Ellen that he will expose her.
Ellen leaves the farm, leaving behind a note to Olof in which she discloses that she is already married, and apologizes for having ‘betrayed his trust.’ She says she must go back and ‘sort things out’ and closes by saying that she will always love Olof. Olof asks Erik to read the note to him. At first, Erik refuses. When he does read the note, he alters the text by inserting a sentence saying that Erik has repaid some money he borrowed from Olof, and that Ellen has taken the payments for herself. He also omits Ellen’s declaration of eternal love for Olof.
Erik then announces he is going back to sea, on the SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria[p] was an ocean liner for the Italian Line home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for its sinking in 1956, when 46 people died. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and...
, and departs.
Some time passes, and one day in the fall (the characters are wearing coats and Olof is bird hunting) when Olof is on a road, a passing car stops and from it steps Ellen. Olof has Ellen’s note with him, and asks that she read it to him, confessing for the first time that he cannot read. Ellen reads the note, and asks if Olof wants her back. The two are reunited and the film ends.