“Mitt liv som hund” or “My Life as a Dog” is a Swedish film directed by Lasse Hallström (What's Eating Gilbert Grape , Cider House Rules, Chocolat and The Shipping News) and based on the novel by Reidar Jönsson. It was released in 1985 and was nominated for 2 Oscars and a BAFTA in 1988 and ... Read review
From the director of 'The Cider House Rules' and 'Chocolat' this internationally ... more
acclaimed film is a tender portrayal of the wisdom and resilience of a young boy set in 1959. Shipped off to live with his uncle for the summer when his mother falls ill...
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The year is 1959. A young boy, Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius), is obsessed by two things - his ... more
namesake fighting for the World Heavyweight boxing title and the fate of Laika, the dog sent in to space by Russia.As his mother's health deteriorates and she no...
Set in 1957, Ingemar is a young boy who lives with his dying mother and older brother. ... more
Having an optimistic outlook on life, Ingemar compares his misfortune to the lives of those worse of than himself, including Laika, the dog sent into space. When he is sent to stay with relatives when his mother's failing health further deteriorates, Ingemar experiences a radical change in perspective...
My Life as a Dogtells the story ofIngemar, a working-class twelve-year-old sent to live ... more
with hisuncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Once there,Ingemar finds refuge from his misfortunes and unexpected adventurewith the help of the town's warmhearted eccentrics. A bittersweetevocation of the struggles and joys of childhood, this filmfeatures an incredibly mature and unaffected performance by leadactor Anton Glanzelius. The Criterion Collection is proud topresent Lasse Hallstrm's Academy Award-nominated My Life as aDog. Special Features: New digital transfer, approved by directorLasse Hallstrm and enhanced for widescreen televisions Shall We Go to Your or My Place or Each GoHome Alone?(1973), a 52-minute film by Lasse Hallstrm, witha video introduction by the director New video interview with Lasse Hallstrm Reflections on My Life as a DogbyKurt Vonnegut Original theatrical trailer New and improved English subtitletranslation Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layeredition
An enjoyable read for Eddie-the-dog fans, My Life As a Dog is full of the same snappy ... more
attitude that brought stardom to Moose on Frazier. Great photos, replies to a sampling of letters received by the popular canine, and an entertaining life history will supply you with the answers to every possible trivia question about this adorable Jack Russell terrier. What was his first professional job? How many children does he have? What was the name of the film that he and son Enzo acted in alongside Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane? It's all here, and all narrated by the king of cute himself.Ever wondered why his tongue is always sticking out in that oh-so-elegant manner? Turns out he wore his teeth down from chewing too much as a puppy. You'll be relieved to learn that Frazier isn't really a dog hater--he gets along just fine with Eddie off-screen, and apparently his breath smells like popcorn. We won't spoil the rest of it for you--if you want to learn about the inspiration for that continual stare, or just what flavour of dog biscuits he's partial to, you'll just have to read it yourself! --Jill Lightner, Amazon.com
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An enjoyable read for Eddie-the-dog fans,My Life As a Dogis full of the same snappy ... more
attitude that brought stardom to Moose onFrazier. Great photos, replies to a sampling of letters received by the popular canine, and an entertaining life history will supply you with the answers to every possible trivia question about this adorable Jack Russell terrier. What was his first professional job? How many children does he have? What was the name of the film that he and son Enzo acted in alongside Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane? It's all here, and all narrated by the king of cute himself.Ever wondered why his tongue is always sticking out in that oh-so-elegant manner? Turns out he wore his teeth down from chewing too much as a puppy. You'll be relieved to learn that Frazier isn't really a dog hater--he gets along just fine with Eddie off-screen, and apparently his breath smells like popcorn. We won't spoil the rest of it for you--if you want to learn about the inspiration for that continual stare, or just what flavour of dog biscuits he's partial to, you'll just have to read it yourself! --Jill Lightner, Amazon.com
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Simultaneously elegiac and raw,My Life as a Dogis an uneven--but unforgettable--tearjerker ... more
which tells the story of Ingemar, a 12-year-old working-class Swedish boy sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Beginning with several representations of the most savage, unsentimental domestic intensity imaginable (interplay between a sick parent and loving child has never looked anywhere near as explosive),My Life as a Dogwisely doesn't attempt to maintain that level of danger; rather, the change in locale to rural Sweden is accompanied by a slackening of pace and a whimsical breeziness. Nevertheless, the tragic condition of Ingemar's mother (and later, the indeterminate fate of Sickan, his beloved dog, consigned to a kennel) hovers over the narrative with a gripping portentousness. At times, director Lasse Hallström misplaces the rhythm, and the film threatens to degenerate into a series of rustic vignettes; luckily, Ingemar's relationship with Gunnar, the jocular yet somewhat sinister uncle who essentially adopts him, carries a fascinating charge. This was later rewritten, whether intentionally or not, by Spike Lee, who changed the gender of the child, set the story in New York City, added a 1970s soul soundtrack, and called itCrooklyn. Swedish, with subtitles --Miles Bethany, Amazon.com
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Beautiful, touching, sensitive, funny, tragic, sad, charming.... Disadvantages: None
...carry on.
My Opinion
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It is sobering to think that Lasse Hallström started his career directing Abba videos before he went on to his more well known successes in American cinema. However even though his American films have received great acclaim “My Life as a Dog” remains, as Hallström admits in the interview on this DVD, his most resonant work.
There have been many films about childhood ... ...I had a smile on my face (or a tear in my eye) most of the way through.
This is in my opinion a truly remarkable film. It is difficult to describe why it is such a gem. It is beautiful, sensitive, funny, tragic, poignant, nostalgic, charming – I could go on... It has wonderfully engaging characters, an off-beat storyline and some really unforgettable scenes.
The acting is excellent, particularly that of Anton Glanzelius ... more
“Mitt liv som hund” or “My Life as a Dog” is a Swedish film directed by Lasse Hallström (What's Eating Gilbert Grape , Cider House Rules, Chocolat and The Shipping News) and based on the novel by Reidar Jönsson. It was released in 1985 and was nominated for 2 Oscars and a BAFTA in 1988 and won Golden Globe Award for “Best Foreign Language Film”. It is in Swedish with English subtitles – I believe a dubbed version is available but please, please do not watch a dubbed version!
Plot ------ Set in 1950's Sweden this is the story of 12 year old Ingemar (Anton Glanzelius) . He lives with his mother (Anki Lidén), his older brother Erik (Manfred Serner) and his dog Sicklan. He has fond memories of happy times spent with his mother but she is now very ill (with what seems to be TB) and has become angry and has retreated into a life of books. His father is not present – the explanation being that he works abroad loading bananas but we are led to suspect that is just what the children are told.
So Ingemar’s mother has to cope with her illness and two boys who are always fighting and getting into trouble. Ingemar does not get on well with his brother Erik who torments him, an example being when Erik decides to demonstrate how babies are made to some schoolfriends using Ingemar and a bottle as props. This leads to Ingemar having to be released from the bottle by his mother – a humiliating experience.
Ingemar rationalises the down points in his life by contemplating how things could be worse. In this he constantly thinks of the dog Laika sent into space and left to starve.
But then in order to give his mother some rest Ingemar is sent way to stay with his slightly eccentric uncle (Tomas von Brömssen) and his wife. His uncle works in the glass factory that is the main employer in his small rural town. Here Ingemar comes across a number of odd characters including a boy with green hair, a woman who takes him along as a chaperone as she poses nude for a local sculptor, a man who spends all his time on his roof banging in nails and a terminally ill old man who gets his only pleasure from getting Ingemar to read extracts from a Lingerie magazine to him. His most important new friend though is Saga (Melinda Kinnaman) who is a girl of his own age who pretends to be a boy so she can play in the football team. Saga also boxes and beats all that take her on. However, Saga has a problem as she is beginning to develop breasts and she implores Ingemar to help her to suggest a way of hiding them.
Ingemar returns occasionally to see his mother but when his mother dies he is sent permanently to stay with his uncle. Here the sadness brought on by his mother’s death, guilt that he may have caused it, the realization of the fate of his dog Sicklan, and an encounter with Saga that he is unable to deal with causes him to retreat into his own emotional shell. He starts to behave like Sicklan, knowing only how to bark and unwilling to be bothered by such human weaknesses as grief and despair.
Finally though Ingemar comes to realize that the friends he has around him (especially Saga) give him the strength to carry on.
My Opinion ---------------
It is sobering to think that Lasse Hallström started his career directing Abba videos before he went on to his more well known successes in American cinema. However even though his American films have received great acclaim “My Life as a Dog” remains, as Hallström admits in the interview on this DVD, his most resonant work.
There have been many films about childhood and coming of age but to me this one was the most effective I have seen in portraying the complex set of emotions that you go through before settling upon a more steady course into adulthood.
Ingemar is depicted as a young boy who has more than his fair share thrown at him and struggles to cope. He keeps his chin up by constantly thinking about how things could have been worse (done in amusing voiceover snatches). However, eventually it is all too much for him and he retreats into a spell of what seems like insanity until eventually he lets himself grieve and is then able to move forwards. Not only does Ingemar have to deal with the death of his mother, this splitting up of his family and the loss of his dog but also with the whole gamut of confusing feelings and experiences that are part of puberty.
The film is both funny and sad at the same time. There are many very funny moments such as Ingemar’s inability to get a glass to his lips when he is nervous or when he falls through a skylight whilst trying to get a glimpse of a nude model. There are also some wonderfully charming moments such as when a boxing bout between Ingemar and Saga turns into a tender hug.
The film has the ability to bring back many memories and feelings from your own childhood and this is one of the main aspects that makes it such a joy to watch – I had a smile on my face (or a tear in my eye) most of the way through.
This is in my opinion a truly remarkable film. It is difficult to describe why it is such a gem. It is beautiful, sensitive, funny, tragic, poignant, nostalgic, charming – I could go on... It has wonderfully engaging characters, an off-beat storyline and some really unforgettable scenes.
The acting is excellent, particularly that of Anton Glanzelius as Ingemar with his cheeky grin and wonderful portrayal of a wide range of emotions. Both he and Melinda Kinnaman as Saga won awards for best young actors in their roles.
Summary --------------
I would highly recommend “My Life as a Dog”. It explores how children are protected by innocence and adults are protected by experience but in the transition between the two there lies a minefield of vulnerability. The touching and charming nature of the film never sinks into anything schmaltzy or soppy as any Hollywood film approaching such issues would. A truly wonderful film!
Rated PG. Though the film touches on some matters of a slightly sexual nature it is portrayed with such natural innocence that the film is perfectly suitable for family viewing. My 10 and 12 year old sons enjoyed it thoroughly.
...a good choice. My Life as a Dog (1987) is a Swedish movie written and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, best known for his direction of The Cider House Rules, Chocolat and The Shipping News. The Plot: Set in 1950s Sweden, My Life as a Dog tells the story of Ingemar, a twelve year old boy. His mother is ill, neglectful, unable to cope with life and full of rage. His father, we are told, is somewhere on the Equator loading bananas. We never know if this ... ...Direction: Hallstrom directs My Life as a Dog brilliantly. The sets are fantastically evocative, and he manages to take us from comedy to tragedy to bathos a hundred times over without ever making the film seem contrived or descending into schmaltz. If only he had kept such a tight rein on The Shipping News, that particular film would have been a hundred times better. Overall: My Life as a Dog is a faultless rites of passage movie from which Hollywood ...
sandrabarber 09.01.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of My Life As A Dog (DVD)
Set in 1957, Ingemar is a young boy who lives with his dying mother and older brother. Having an optimistic outlook on life, Ingemar compares his misfortune to the lives of those worse of than himself, including Laika, the dog sent into space. When he is sent to stay with relatives when his mother's failing health further deteriorates, Ingemar experiences a radical change in perspective...
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ARROW FILMS; LACE GROUP; SONY DADC, MOMENTUM PICTURES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Set in 1957, Ingemar is a young boy who lives with his dying mother and older brother. Having an optimistic outlook on life, Ingemar compares his misfortune to the lives of those worse of than himself, including Laika, the dog sent into space. When he is sent to stay with relatives when his mother's failing health further deteriorates, Ingemar experiences a radical change in perspective...
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