House of Angels (1993)

We watched this Swedish comedy on cable recently, and while it is not exactly a film that breaks new ground, it is enjoyable as it takes the audience into parts of the country where not too many movies are set. The basic premise is prejudice against intruders that dare to come to a small conservative community acting in a manner the locals are not accustomed to see.The film is directed by an Englishman, Colin Nutley, who also wrote the screenplay in which it is based. Sometimes outsiders can discover things that most citizens of the land, in which the action is set, would never imagine, and therefore, he can be more objective in his approach to tell a story that is fresh and make it fun to watch.The vivacious Helena Bergstrom is Fanny Zander, the granddaughter of an old man who did not get to know her at all. Having lived in Berlin and toured with her act all over Europe, she represents an intrusion no one likes. To make things worse, she is now a landowner whose land is coveted by the greedy Axel Flogfalt, whose ambition is to exploit it for his benefit. Along the way, Axel discovers a dark secret he was not ready to face.Colin Nutley's comedy that will get laughs from the viewer; a welcome change of pace from more serious fare from Sweden.

As a Turkish man now living in Sweden I must confess I often watch Scandinavian movies. Most if them I never understand. I think actors from Scandinavia work best in Hollywood. Last week I watched a film called "The Polish Wedding" together with a polish friend of mine and we both said it was the worst movie we ever watched. Unfortunately I was wrong this movie " House of Angels" is even worse. None of the actors can act, absolutely not the female so called star Helen Bergstrom. The plot is so silly nobody can believe it.I think the whole thing is a mess from the start. lots of bad acting except from Selldal and Wollter. Ahmed Sellam

Colin Nutley's Swedish sleeper, "House of Angels", is a real gem. Set in small town Sweden, it's about a woman who comes from the big city to claim her ancestral home, after the death of her grandfather whom she never met. The townspeople are not welcoming to this city girl. As she pieces together information about her dead mother and grandfather provided by the townspeople, she learns more about herself. The themes of forgiveness and self-knowledge are evident, but not over sentimentalized. The small-mindedness of the Swedish townspeople is captured well by Nutley; anyone who has lived in a small community will recognize some of the characters.This is a quirky, funny and at times poignant film, crafted by an excellent director and even better actors.

Colin Nutley has a way of finding what truly is Sweden where Swedes themselves would search for such clarity. Fanny and Zak are great characters, come to an isolated village out in the Swedish "landsbygden" and Nutley exposes Sweden through the juxtaposition of two conflicting life styles. There are scenic shots in this movie which make any lover of Sweden sigh with bliss. Those that claim that this is the Englishman's finest movie are probably right - it's a true classic.