While the story isn't perfect, the look of the film certainly is...

MartinHafer

While UNDER SOLEN did not win the 2000 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, I certainly can understand the nomination, as it is an incredibly beautiful and highly artistic film. Rarely have I seen a film in which the cinematography and music done so much to create a truly beautiful film. Despite the film being set entirely around a farm in the Swedish countryside, it's the loveliest place on the planet due to the wonderful film work in UNDER SOLEN. As for the story, I liked it very much...but it wasn't perfect.

The film begins with a 40 year-old bachelor placing an ad in the paper for a young housekeeper. It seems that the guy lives in a pretty ratty old farmhouse and you also wonder if perhaps he wants more than just a housekeeper, as he wants the lady to be young and she should include a picture! Well, the lonely guy ends up getting something he probably didn't expect--a woman who is truly gorgeous. And, in many ways, they seem incredibly different. He is a big hulking man who is incredibly shy and awkward. She seems more self-secure and makes heads turn.

Into this odd arrangement arrives a so-called friend of Olaf--Eric. Eric is the opposite. He's young, handsome, impulsive and great with women...but also quite shallow. This new lady, Ellen, is polite to Eric when he visits, but also a bit formal. She seems to be able to see through him and although Eric is attracted to her, she finds herself drawn towards clumsy old Olaf as the film progresses. Eric, a petulant jerk, seems angry at her rebuffs of his advances.

What happens next is very sweet as you see the relationship between Ellen and Olaf bloom...very, very slowly. In fact, the very slow and deliberate pacing of the film might turn off some. As for me, I didn't mind at all because it was all so beautiful and reminded me, style-wise, of "Babette's Feast"--another great Scandinavian film. So much is said in this film with glances and little scenes--I really liked it. What I was less than thrilled by was the dangling portion near the end. What about her former life and what about her secret? In some ways, it tended to deflect from how much I liked this character and I really wanted a full explanation as to how she got to where she was in life. I'd say more, but I don't want to ruin the film.

The film is probably not a great one for kids or teens, as it's a very sexually charged film. It's NOT dirty or gratuitous--it's just very sexual and probably is best as a movie to watch with someone you love.

Not a perfect film, but there's so much to like about this one.

score 8/10

MartinHafer 2 February 2010

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2201416/