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Description
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Bo Widerberg's breakthrough film is at the same time a time-typical and timeless story about leadership and class in 1930s Sweden. In addition, it is a real classic that was named the best Swedish film of all time by film connoisseurs in 1995.The year is 1936. The effects of the Great Depression are still felt in Sweden. Hitler stages his biggest propaganda maneuver: the Berlin Olympics. Anders lives with his family in the Korpen slum in Malmö. It's the first of May and Anders' girlfriend Elsie tries to lure him to Folkets Park. So does his friend Sixten, who is a football player and intends to play in one of the big clubs so that he can come to Paris and meet prostitutes in fur. Anders' dream is to become a writer. He has written about his neighborhood and its inhabitants and the manuscript has been sent to a publisher in Stockholm. For years, the mother has supported the family through cleaning and washing for others. The father is an unemployed salesman. His income from temporary advertising assignments goes to alcohol. With alcohol, he dulls his sensitivity and shame over his failures. He dreams of sitting in a luxury hotel and making a business contract over a glass of brandy with the cigar in his left hand. A letter from the publisher in Stockholm arrives. They want Anders to come there to "discuss the manuscript". The father immediately sees him as a Nobel Laureate and instructs him in the ritual of business dealings. But the publisher does not prove ready to publish. The father is super disappointed and thus prevents Anders and his mother from making a long-awaited circus visit. Anders confides in Elsie. He does not feel he has the language in his power. Elsie comforts him with her love. She has children and wants to marry him, but he defends himself and seeks advice from his father. However, he is drunk. When Anders beats him, he accuses his wife of humiliating him and causing his misery. Upset, Anders interrogates his mother and gets to know the real truth from her. It was the drunken father's behavior that led to a moment of infidelity. She also says that she once had to have an abortion for the sake of their poverty. Anders asks her to go and vote for the Social Democrats. Sixten is going on a European tour. Anders decides to break away from the neighborhood and follow Sixten to Stockholm. If he stayed, he would drown in misery like all the others. The mother appeals to him not to disappoint Elsie but his decision is irrevocable. (http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=film&itemid=4680#plot-summary)
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