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Under the Sun
Shadow Distribution

Under the Sun reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 60 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.8 out of 10
based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 6 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Rolf Lassgård, Helena Bergström, and Johan Widerberg

Set in the Swedish countryside in 1956, this is the story of a forty-year-old man living a solitary life on his farm. One day, he places an advertisement searching for a housekeeper, who eventually takes over the household and his heart.


GENRE(S): Romance  
WRITTEN BY: H.E. Bates (novel The Little Farm)
Johanna Hald
David Neal
Colin Nutley
 
DIRECTED BY: Colin Nutley  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: February 17, 2004 
Video: February 17, 2004 
Theatrical: August 3, 2001 
RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: Sweden 
LANGUAGE(S): Swedish (with English subtitles) 

Original Swedish title "Under Solen"; Nominated as Best Foreign Language Film at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Movies like this are not for everyone, but arrive like private messages for their own particular audiences.
Read Full Review
80
Washington Post Stephen Hunter
Simple, earnest and workmanlike, it sings of Olof, glad and big, and how he lost his -- well, we can't say what he lost.
Read Full Review
80
Washington Post Desson Thomson
Makes a virtue of its own simplicity. But don't be fooled. That simplicity is mere cover. You're kept wondering about the outcome until the very end.
Read Full Review
80
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Casts a lovely spell, as warm and seductive as its summertime setting.
Read Full Review
75
Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
This modest drama is the art-house equivalent of comfort food: satisfying in its familiarity.
Read Full Review
75
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
Swedish cinema has been famous for a number of things: beautiful actresses, fine sexy psychological dramas, natural settings, cinematic bawdiness and a touch of melancholy. Under the Sun fits that profile well.
Read Full Review
75
Miami Herald Marta Barber
Under the Sun doesn't intend to be dramatic, much less melodramatic. This beautiful film just wants to capture life's simplicity.
Read Full Review
75
San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann
A charming, finely nuanced romance.
Read Full Review
70
New Times (L.A.) Gregory Weinkauf
Gentle and gorgeous, honoring atmosphere over attitude.
Read Full Review
70
TV Guide Ken Fox
A touching coming-of-age story from Sweden, made interesting by the fact that the protagonist is a lonely, middle-aged farmer rather than an adolescent.
Read Full Review
63
New York Daily News Jack Mathews
Ultimately, it's the casting and the story that are too good to be true. If a newspaper's classified ad section could document a success like this one, there would never be a slump.
Read Full Review
60
Variety Gunnar Rehlin
A celebration of traditional, detailed filmmaking.
Read Full Review
50
Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten
The performances are likable and there's nothing really wrong with the story -- other than the fact that Nutley hardly has any story to tell.
Read Full Review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey
Sugary but well-acted little emotional button-presser.
Read Full Review
50
Village Voice Jessica Winter
The kind of quotidian pastoral -- about a simple, honest peasant who finds the greatest love of all -- that the Academy invariably finds irresistible.
Read Full Review
50
Chicago Reader Staff (Not Credited)
All three lead actors are adroit; but the story, adapted from a short story by H.E. Bates, is both contrived and not very well told.
Read Full Review
30
The New York Times A.O. Scott
It has the melancholy mildew of both "Marty" and the 1940's weepie "The Enchanted Cottage."
Read Full Review
30
LA Weekly Mark Olsen
Try as they might, the two central performers can never overcome the film's underdeveloped core, and are left flailing about amid Nutley's listless, glacial pacing.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Pablo G. gave it a 10:
Real wonderful movie.

A. W. gave it a 9:
I really liked it! The characters played their roles well. With the exception of Olof, you were always guessing about the motives of the other two. A side note: Helena Bergstrom is one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL actresses I've EVER seen! A face I'll not soon forget...

Debbie M. gave it a 10:
I absolutely LOVED IT! A decent, makes you feel good movie. The location/countryside was beautiful! I want more!

Dayle A. gave it an 8:
A sweet, engaging story that is rarely told--that of mature MAN honestly struggling to learn how to love and trust.

Harold R. gave it an 8:
The cinematography pulled you into the innocent and beautiful setting. The characters had depth, and you were never quite sure what Ellen's motives were until the end.

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