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A similar disturbing question as to why there are no
women directors who have ever received an Oscar, is why
there were no female artists through past history, period.
The answer of course, is that a number of these women had
to pretend to be men, or see their work attributed to prominent
male artists.***
The acclaimed Swedish period feature Everlasting Moments,
addresses these issues, and with an uncommon bittersweet
dramatic eloquence that happens to all be true. Based on
the life of the great aunt of the filmmaker's wife, as told
to her by the woman's daughter, Everlasting Moments combines
the best of both worlds of stunning biopic that captures
the essence of one thwarted yet determined female's struggle
for survival, while at the same time illuminating that cataclysmic
historical moment at the turn of the 19th century, as intimately
experienced by all these characters.***
Maria Haiskinan is Maria, a Finnish immigrant in Sweden
and poverty stricken young mother with a brood of perpetually
hungry children. Married to Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt),
a frequently laid off dock worker and brutish, hard drinking
womanizer, Maria resigns herself to her lot in life as overworked
and physically and emotionally abused, but never surrendering
a sense of dignity and optimism.***
Maria also possesses a camera that she won in a lottery,
a mysterious, alluring object which at first has no discernible
value to her. That is, until she tries to pawn it at a camera
shop, to feed her destitute family. But Pederson (Jesper
Christensen), the elderly proprietor of the store, recognizes
in Maria's intense gaze in wonder at the world around her,
as a rare quality of being 'endowed with the gift of seeing.'
And he instead allows her to 'borrow back' her pawned camera,
to magically discover through photography, her own awakened
creative talent and visions of natural beauty waiting to
be poetically captured.***
Directed by Swedish filmmaker Jan Troell (The Emigrants,
The New Land) and a multiple award winner, Everlasting Moments
is that rare film which touches the soul in myriad exquisite
ways. And opens up to viewers a host of characters who,
for better or worse, provide infinite pleasures for those
sharing their company. Indeed, how rare is the movie experience
where it's difficult to part ways with the characters one
has come to care for so deeply, throughout of the story.***
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