I saw the Swedish foreign language film Elvira Madigan at an art house movie theater and was blown away. Elvira Madigan is highly acclaimed as one of the best, if not the best, beautiful artistic films of all time. It also has one of the best music scores of all films. The movie involves a romantic fantasy affair which turns tragic. The movie’s theme about breaking out of social constraints to find freedom, happiness, and self-fulfillment hit aa popular concept and captivated audiences worldwide.
The movie was filmed in Sweden and released in 1967. It was shot in an improvizational style. Produced by Europa Film and directed by Bo Widerberg. It won at Cannes and received 2 BAFTA nominations and 2 Golden Globe nominations.
The New York Times stated “Exquisite is the only way that surges to my mind as an appropriate description.” Critic Roger Ebert gave it 4 out of 4 stars, “Elvira Madigan is indeed remarkable beauty. Almost every frame would make a painting, as yet the film is alive and cinematic.” Critic Lee Broughton said, “Nearly forty years on, Elvira Madigan still has the power to impress as an art house and a keenly observed love story.”
The Music
The music score is hauntingly beautiful with a dreamlike melody which enhances the romantic and idyllic mood. The main theme is the Piano Concerto No. 22 in C major, K467, Andante Second Movement, for piano and orchestra, composed by Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart in 1785. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21, II, Andante movement
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 -1741) concertos are also in the score.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Violin Concerto, Summer, First Movement, Allegro
Vivaldi’s Concerto L’Amoroso RV271
The Story
The story is based on a true account of the characters in the 1880s.
Set in the summer of 1889 in Denmark, circus tightrope walker Elvira Madigan and Swedish lieutenant Sixten Sparre are in the Danish countryside, having run away together. They are both fleeing their past lives—Sparre from the military and his wife and children, Madigan from the traveling circus at which she is the star attraction. The couple are hiding in secret due to their scandalous relationship. Sparre’s regiment are in search of the deserter.
Despite the couple hiding their identities they are found out by the authorities. The couple resume their idyllic summer staying at various hotels and inns, but as their financial resources dwindle, they find themselves having to procure money wherever they can. They become desperate seeing no solution to there predicament. They agree on a suicide pact and they set out for one last picnic with Sparre packing a gun in the basket.
The Cast and Crew
Bo Wilderberger (1930 to 1997) Sweden, film director. Had been awarded Berlin, Cannes, 2 Guldbagge, 3 Oscar nominations, and a Golden Globe nomination. Known for All Things Fair, Adalan 37, Joe Hill, Love 6, Raven’s End, The Man On the Roof.
Widerberg stated, “My method was to allow Pia and Thommy all the time they wanted for each scene. They could take long pauses before each line. Then I edited the pauses out of the film without losing the clear sense that each scene was played as a whole. I also wanted them to experience personally some of the things that were happening to the characters they were playing.”
Pia Degermark, Sweden, actress. Won Cannes with nominations for BAFTA and Golden Globe. Known for Elvira Madigan, A Brief Season, The Looking Glass War, The Vampire Happening.
Thommy Berggren, Sweden, actor in stage, film, and TV. Known for Elvira Madigan, The Adventurers, Sunday’s Children, Joe Hill, Helja Roland!, The Glass Blowers Children. Raven’s End
Sources
IMDB
Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert
New York Times
Variety
