My Life as a Dog (1985)

I didn't know what to expect with this story. Initially, it appears that young Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius) is merely a mischievous troublemaker, but inwardly, he harbors all the self doubt and insecurity of any young boy his age, compounded by a terminally ill mother and a brother with whom he has very little connection. However Ingemar has a way of disengaging from his troubles by comparing his life with outcomes experienced by those even more less fortunate. Despite a rebellious nature, his introspection allows him to foster a positive attitude which I found quite remarkable, especially while ruminating on the fate of Laika, the Russian space dog that died while on a mission for the Soviets. His thoughts are decidedly more existential than most kids of his age and serve as a coping mechanism for the eventual passing of his mother that the film leads us toward. The youngster portraying Ingemar seems a natural talent, though his filmography here on IMDb is quite limited. His sidekick Saga (Melinda Kinnaman), looking every bit the tomboy, affected a wonderful transformation so that by the end of the picture, it was visually jarring to see her looking pretty in a dress. Their coming of age story is portrayed sweetly with innocence, and though the film explores sexual themes with it's eccentric characters, it does so maturely with a young person's sense of wonder and amazement.

A mischievous young boy with a Puckish smile, unusual table manners, and a sympathetic kinship to Laika the Soviet astro-dog is sent by his ailing mother to live with relatives in the country, where he discovers a town full of people even more eccentric than himself. Director Lasse Hallstrom's popular Swedish import offers a refreshing look at the mysteries and heartbreak of adolescence, with all the charm but none of the cloying sentiment of other, similar coming-of-age films. The rich humor is drawn around an affectionate portrait of small town life, closely observed; the pain comes from the realization that young Ingmar's bedridden mother has already passed away. The pace is often lazy and the film is overlong, but Hallstrom's understanding of human idiosyncrasies is reminiscent of a Jacques Tati comedy, choosing to laugh with instead of at his characters. It's a memorable look at love and mortality, as seen from the innocent eyes of a boy passing through that awkward age when he begins thinking like an adult while still unable to stop acting like a child.

After I had seen "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat", I took some interest in Swedish-born director Lasse Hallstrom, and so I decided to check out one of his movies from his native country. "Mitt liv som hund" ("My Life as a Dog" in English) really impressed me. This story of abandoned boy Ingemar hits the perfect balance between sentimental and gritty, with one scene that was probably there for a little comic relief (you'll know what I mean if you see the movie). Probably the most effective scene is when Ingemar talks about Laika, the Soviet space-dog. Just as happened to Laika, Ingemar didn't want to have to go through this, it was done to him. And both Laika and Ingemar got left in limbo. Both were victims of cold, abstract forces.Anyway, this is definitely one that I recommend. In my opinion, Hallstrom's American movie most like this one was "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", about a destitute family in Iowa. Both are worth seeing.

The story begins with two boys living with their mentally and terminally ill mother. She is unable to care for them and they are both taken to live with separate relatives. The story follows the youngest as he moves in with an uncle and his wife. They have no kids of their own, but they are genuinely decent people who try their best. This movie follows the boy during the first year or two of his life with them and you get to see his first love, him playing on a soccer team, etc. While this may sound mundane, it is amazing how well the movie holds your attention--the writing, acting and directing are superb.Although I liked this movie a lot, I was a little surprised that it received the Golden Globe when Jean de Florette was just nominated. Jean de Florette and its sequel, Manon of the Spring were a little better.