Under the Sun

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ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>                </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelforless/id361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelfor"><U><B>Great Web Sites</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Under the Sun</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="501" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2121 WIDTH="495"><div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Under the Sun *** (Not Rated)</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By George O. Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> I said yes</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Olof: Rolf Lassgard</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Ellen: Helena Bergstrom</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Erik: Johan Widerberg</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Newspaper Receptionist: Gunilla Roor</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Lena: Linda Ulvaeus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Director: Colin Nutley</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A 40 year-old man, who is a virgin, tries to find female companionship and a stronger self image by hiring a housekeeper.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> This unusual love story is set in rural Sweden in 1956 on a farm tended by Olof (Rolf Lassgard), a quiet man, over 40, who is still a virgin. His mom left him an inheritance after her death nine years ago which allows him to keep the farm going, but just barely. The house is in a shambles, some rooms untouched for nine years. He sings in the church choir and now Olof begins to feel the need for a woman in his life. </div> <bR> <div> Olof's only friend appears to be Erik (Johan Widerberg), a 20-ish young man who has sailed the seas and spent a few years in the US. He loves all things American, including Elvis and his spotless Ford convertible. And he's always ready to brag of his female conquests. Erik's main source of income at this time is made by running errands for Olof and borrowing money from him to bet on the horses.</div> <bR> <div> Olof drives into town to place an ad in the newspaper to hire a housekeeper. The ad reads, "Lonely farmer, 39, own car. Seeks young woman as housekeeper. Photograph appreciated." On the surface one might conclude that Olof is a simpleton. But look at how adroitly he handles his inability to read and write when he enlists the aid of the helpful and very pretty newspaper receptionist (Gunilla Roor), first to compose and write the ad and then later to read the responses, it's clear that he is an intelligent man. He has a natural charm.</div> <bR> <div> Since Olof cannot read, Erik helps handle his financial affairs, keeping track of the household spending and reading correspondence. Olof trusts him implicitly. </div> <bR> <div> Housekeeper is obviously a career change for Ellen, the beautiful, sophisticated woman who answers Olof's ad. Her high heels and smart suit and hat tell us that she has come from the big city to get away from <I>something.</I> Clearly she is a worldly woman who makes a major adjustment when she moves to the rundown farm and has to urinate in a pot in her room because there is no running water in the house and to watch a stud horse service a mare in the front yard.</div> <bR> <div> Erik plays on his one claim to fame, he's been out of this little hamlet and has lived abroad. He treats his girlfriend Lena (Linda Ulvaeus) terribly and she's obviously in love with him. She too is a virgin and Erik continues to press her to have sex with him and you have the feeling that she will and that he then will be less interested in her. Erik is attracted to Ellen and with his typical swagger he lets her know he's "…been with hundreds of women." With her usual candor Ellen asks him, "But are you a man?"  </div> <bR> <div>  Olof and Ellen do become lovers. His stored up passion gives way to a wonderful sensitivity. Ellen is a most willing teacher with genuine feelings for Olof and his desire to please her. Secrets are revealed about all concerned, including why Ellen escaped to the countryside. She ponders leaving the farm, which will break not only her heart, but Olof's as well.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Early in the film I experienced the same sensation as with <I><B>The Road Home</B></I>; the rural setting, the kind people -and new age music. </div> <bR> <div> Seeing Olof take a bath in a round metal tub in the kitchen reminds me of my visits to my grandparents' home in Michigan during the 1950's. I would take a bath at least once a week, whether I needed it or not. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings" >J</FONT> They had chickens they would kill by chopping off the heads, plucking and cleaning them, and then into the frying pan. Milk was kept in an icebox and the stove was wood burning. There was a pot in the house to urinate in at night, or you could take the trip about 30 yards, into the darkness, to an outhouse should you desire. As my grandparents did not have a car, they would go into town when a neighbor could take them. The roads there are still unpaved to this day and most people want to keep it that way, to manage the speed of the passing cars in addition to maintaining some of that old home atmosphere. </div> <bR> <div> That home is now a summer cottage, complete with facilities, which is a place where one can clear their mind after leaving the big city. I still know people that have lived there all their lives.</div> <bR> <div> Ellen's kindness to Olof makes this love story work. Erik grates on your nerves with his prickliness in the way that he treats Olof, Ellen and Lena (a person he says he loves). He does get his comeuppance but you have to listen carefully when he tells Olof his plans for the future late in the story. </div> <bR> <div> The symbolism used to establish the rural setting is a little heavy handed and there are recurring scenes of the sky and airplanes that I've yet to figure out. If you have a thought on this, please send me an email. Also, the soundtrack may be hard to find, but if you can get it, do so, as the music is great.</div> <bR> <div> The secrets we keep and the lies we tell either by what we say or remain quiet about, can often cause the pain we are trying to avoid. While <I><B>Under the Sun</B></I> does not have the emotional impact of <I><B>The Road Home</B></I>, I still enjoyed it very much. At times you can get the answer you are looking for if only you ask. The words "I said yes" can be more powerful than "I love you."</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> Not Rated (nudity; vivid sex</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>