Everlasting Moments

An LA Times Critics' Choice award for "Everlasting Moments" from film critic Kenneth Turan, who writes:

Swedish director Jan Troell will be 78 in July, and when he talks about his filmmaking choices, about where to spend "the last vestiges of his time and energy," it is not a theoretical concern. His hand, Troell says, "must be turned to something quite extraordinary," and with "Everlasting Moments," it definitely is. (Kenneth Turan's review of "Everlasting Moments")

Synopsis Everlasting Moments
In a series of remarkable events inspired by a true story, Maria Heiskanen stars as Maria Larsson, a Finnish mother and housewife who devotes all of her attention, care, and consideration to the well-being of her family -- but, like many homemakers, does so at the expense of her own identity and self-awareness. Not that her dockworker husband, Sigge (Mikael Persbrandt), particularly deserves such consideration; a brutish, alcoholic lout, his evenings consist of making life hell for Maria and their daughter with tyrannical, abusive behavior. Then, as the dockworkers go on strike and the family's economic situation plummets, a ray of hope appears, in the form of a Contessa camera won in a local lottery. Unsurprisingly, Maria at first attempts to pawn it to reel in extra monies, but store owner Sebastian Pedersen convinces her otherwise; he teaches her how to use it, and she begins taking gorgeous, haunting photographs with the unaffected, instinctive perceptions of a young child. As the woman's self-discovery builds and her identity takes on form and definition, Sebastian unofficially takes her on as a protégée and quietly witnesses romantic feelings for her building inside of him. Meanwhile, Sigge's life falls to pieces when the authorities connect him with the catastrophic explosion of a British vessel. Maria's daughter, Maja (Callin Öhrvall), narrates. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide


Cast: Maria Heiskanen, Jesper Christensen, Mikael Persbrandt, Callin Ohrvall
Director: Jan Troell
Genres: Period Film, Drama, Family Drama
Opened March 6, 2009 Runtime:2 hr. 11 min.

Showtimes and tickets for "Everlasting Moments" at Fandango.com