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Under the Sun

EMAILPRINTShadow Distribution

Under the Sun reviews
60
8.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Romance

Written by: H.E. Bates (novel The Little Farm)
Johanna Hald
David Neal
Colin Nutley

Directed by: Colin Nutley

Release Date:
Theatrical: August 3, 2001
DVD: February 17, 2004

Running Time: 118 minutes, Color

Origin: Sweden

Summary

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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80

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Casts a lovely spell, as warm and seductive as its summertime setting.

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75

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

This modest drama is the art-house equivalent of comfort food: satisfying in its familiarity.

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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.

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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.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

A charming, finely nuanced romance.

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70

New Times (L.A.) Gregory Weinkauf

Gentle and gorgeous, honoring atmosphere over attitude.

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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.

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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.

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60

Variety Gunnar Rehlin

A celebration of traditional, detailed filmmaking.

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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.

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50

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Sugary but well-acted little emotional button-presser.

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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.

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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.

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30

The New York Times A.O. Scott

It has the melancholy mildew of both "Marty" and the 1940's weepie "The Enchanted Cottage."

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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.

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What Our Users Said

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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