Post by christine73 on Nov 13, 2015 0:25:22 GMT -5
posted by larare
11/23/2011
Simon and the Oaks first review via fansofhelen.com via moviezine.se
First review of “Simon and the Oaks”
BY�EGON�–�NOVEMBER 3, 2011
POSTED IN:�FILM,�REVIEWS
The web-site�moviezine.se�wrote this first review of the film:
The year is 1939 and Europe is heading for war. In a small house by the sea, on the outskirts of Gothenburg, far from what is happening down in Germany, Simon lives with his working-class parents. Despite a good upbringing by parents who love him, he feels different and Simon is dreaming of another life. He asks his parents for permission to enter a posh school, and despite the fear of that he might become stuck-up Simon’s father after a while gives his consent.
Watch Trailer 2:
At school he meets Isaac who is the son of a wealthy jewish bookseller, and they soon become close friends. Simon goes with Isaac home to the large apartment above the family’s bookshop in Gothenburg and marvels at all the beautiful things they have. Parquet flooring, phonograph and a chandelier sparkling in the sunlight.
In Simon’s house there is no running water in the winter, and Simon is sleeping in a single bed in one corner of the kitchen. Despite the simplicity Isaac soon feels himself at home in Simon’s family and after a while he moves in with them, for not being so alone in his father’s large apartment.
There in the small house by the beach, Simon and Isaac are growing up together. Isaac’s father, Ruben, often comes to visit and he always brings presents. Simon gets on well with him and they share the same passion for music. Meanwhile, Isaac is getting closer to Simon’s father.
Standing next is Simon’s mother Karin looking reluctantly at the boys growing up, but her heart is burdened by a secret which she should have talked about long ago.
“Simon and the Oaks” is really a great movie visually. The first thing you encounter is the wide views of the cliffs by the sea and the big oak, that Simon is sitting at, and it looks really good. Throughout the film, the productional value is on top with beautiful, contemporary surroundings and costumes. The music, written by Annette Fock, is grand and beautiful and is perfectly suited to enhance the mood of as well slower as more dramatic scenes. The acting is the film’s strongest side. Above all, the German actor Jan Josef Liefers who plays Ruben made a great impression on me. Helen Sjöholm and Stefan Gödicke who plays Simon’s parents are also very good. I was moved to tears by a scene where a lot of strength lies in Gödickes acting, which is impressive.
Jonathan S. Wächter, Karl Martin Eriksson, who plays the young versions of Simon and Isaac are both strong in their acting. Bill Skarsgård and Karl Linnertorp who plays Simon and Isaac when they are older are both good, but did not make the same impression on me as the younger actors did. Some of it surely comes from the fact that we follow the young boys for a very long part during the movie. It is only during the film’s second half we get to meet them when they are in their late “teens” and at the same time the story becomes sprawling and it lacks some of the focus that the first half did have.
Much of “Simon and the Oaks” is really, really good, but the longer the movie goes, the more it loses focus. There are scenes adding to the character-building and certainly worked in the novel, but it seems here to be unnecessary and does not lead to something in the end. I also would have liked to see stronger acting from Bill Skarsgård, who carries much of the film’s second half on his shoulders. The script and the dialogue is well written, and I liked Lisa Ohlin’s auspices.
“Simon and the Oaks” has the potential to be a very good film, it just feels as if they should have refined it more in the editing, and made the story tighter. It’s hard to rate a movie that you want to love. My rating is a very strong third place, but parts of the movie are great, and I would not be surprised if many people will see it as one of the best Swedish films.
Andreas Climent (moviezine.se)
11/23/2011
Simon and the Oaks first review via fansofhelen.com via moviezine.se
First review of “Simon and the Oaks”
BY�EGON�–�NOVEMBER 3, 2011
POSTED IN:�FILM,�REVIEWS
The web-site�moviezine.se�wrote this first review of the film:
The year is 1939 and Europe is heading for war. In a small house by the sea, on the outskirts of Gothenburg, far from what is happening down in Germany, Simon lives with his working-class parents. Despite a good upbringing by parents who love him, he feels different and Simon is dreaming of another life. He asks his parents for permission to enter a posh school, and despite the fear of that he might become stuck-up Simon’s father after a while gives his consent.
Watch Trailer 2:
At school he meets Isaac who is the son of a wealthy jewish bookseller, and they soon become close friends. Simon goes with Isaac home to the large apartment above the family’s bookshop in Gothenburg and marvels at all the beautiful things they have. Parquet flooring, phonograph and a chandelier sparkling in the sunlight.
In Simon’s house there is no running water in the winter, and Simon is sleeping in a single bed in one corner of the kitchen. Despite the simplicity Isaac soon feels himself at home in Simon’s family and after a while he moves in with them, for not being so alone in his father’s large apartment.
There in the small house by the beach, Simon and Isaac are growing up together. Isaac’s father, Ruben, often comes to visit and he always brings presents. Simon gets on well with him and they share the same passion for music. Meanwhile, Isaac is getting closer to Simon’s father.
Standing next is Simon’s mother Karin looking reluctantly at the boys growing up, but her heart is burdened by a secret which she should have talked about long ago.
“Simon and the Oaks” is really a great movie visually. The first thing you encounter is the wide views of the cliffs by the sea and the big oak, that Simon is sitting at, and it looks really good. Throughout the film, the productional value is on top with beautiful, contemporary surroundings and costumes. The music, written by Annette Fock, is grand and beautiful and is perfectly suited to enhance the mood of as well slower as more dramatic scenes. The acting is the film’s strongest side. Above all, the German actor Jan Josef Liefers who plays Ruben made a great impression on me. Helen Sjöholm and Stefan Gödicke who plays Simon’s parents are also very good. I was moved to tears by a scene where a lot of strength lies in Gödickes acting, which is impressive.
Jonathan S. Wächter, Karl Martin Eriksson, who plays the young versions of Simon and Isaac are both strong in their acting. Bill Skarsgård and Karl Linnertorp who plays Simon and Isaac when they are older are both good, but did not make the same impression on me as the younger actors did. Some of it surely comes from the fact that we follow the young boys for a very long part during the movie. It is only during the film’s second half we get to meet them when they are in their late “teens” and at the same time the story becomes sprawling and it lacks some of the focus that the first half did have.
Much of “Simon and the Oaks” is really, really good, but the longer the movie goes, the more it loses focus. There are scenes adding to the character-building and certainly worked in the novel, but it seems here to be unnecessary and does not lead to something in the end. I also would have liked to see stronger acting from Bill Skarsgård, who carries much of the film’s second half on his shoulders. The script and the dialogue is well written, and I liked Lisa Ohlin’s auspices.
“Simon and the Oaks” has the potential to be a very good film, it just feels as if they should have refined it more in the editing, and made the story tighter. It’s hard to rate a movie that you want to love. My rating is a very strong third place, but parts of the movie are great, and I would not be surprised if many people will see it as one of the best Swedish films.
Andreas Climent (moviezine.se)
