Watch Elina: As If I Wasn't There For Free

Brilliant and touching

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Blistering performances.

Tiny Swedish gem. In the 50es, in the desolate Norrbotten, Finnish-speaking kids are enrolled in the strict Swedish education system as personified by Bibi Andersson's extremely uptight Ms. Holm. Imagine Shirley MacLaine in her most uncompromising appirition – and then some. Bibi is marvellous as the given villain here, but on the other hand the part does not give her much else to work with than parading a never-yielding stone face. Nevertheless, to this viewer, this film adds miles to her reputation in terms of versatility. A life and death power struggle soon materialises between Holm and desperately cute pupil Elina, a true wolf in sheeps clothing if ever you saw one. The story is paper-thin but razor sharp and grossly engaging. ***SPOILER*** The standoff culminates in that familiar scene from Dead Poets' Society where all the kids unite in rebellion, only in this movie it actually serves a purpose. My regrets only go to the fact that secondary story lines were not explored, as a possible romance was only vaguely indicated, leaving the movie with a quite narrow outlook. You will never see this one at Blockbuster, but if you do, grab it.

Children's movies quite often tell stories considering important moral issues. They often have purposes others than to entertain, and therefore have to find the way to get the child audience interested by other means than mindless action. That kind of films should have all the qualities needed to offer something for the adults also."Elina -Som jag inte fanns" has a message working on two levels. It is about basic civil rights. On general level, it remind us on how important it is for people to be allowed and able to use their own language. On personal level, it is about our right of seeing the world as we wish. In this case, the perspective is the one of a Finnish-speaking child in Sweden.In Scandinavia people are, in general, fairly free to believe in gods, spirits, aliens, even gnomes and elves if they wish. (At least when they keep it to themselves.) These rights are so important that it is always worth the money and effort to tell a story about them. However, that is what this movie lacks. A good story. Of course I'm happy to see a children's movie with no unnecessary action and violence, but the lack of a plot makes me wonder if this is actually more suitable for adults. The film fortunately has some humorous scenes, with good taste also, but that does not really cover up for the lack of a story. However good the atmosphere and the message, face the fact: Children deserve a little bit more adventurous movies than this.Basically, this is a movie about the little people's rights. The message pretty much reflects the attitudes in today's Scandinavia. We encourage our children to grow up to be independent and aware of their rights. But looking at the youth of today, maybe it would be time to make a movie of the importance of the safety provided by the limits and even discipline? The northern nature is both beautiful and described in a realistic way. The movie also has some historical value, as it shows us the reality of cultural discrimination from the children's point of view, so often forgotten. It combines a little bit of fantasy with the harsh reality. Therefore it is good for the adults and even better for the children, if you manage to get them to watch something as serious as this. 7/10

ELINA - AS IF I WASN'T HERE Sweden in the early 1950s. Elina is a member of the Finnish-speaking minority living in northern Sweden. Her father, whom she loved dearly, died of tuberculosis a few years ago. Out in the moor just behind her house, Elina believes that she can still talk to her Dad. She is a very lonely girl. Because she was ill for so long, Elina is obliged to repeat a whole year at school. Her teacher,Ms.Holm, thinks that her new pupil is unkempt; she decides to take her in hand and turn her into neat and tidy schoolgirl.This entails speaking perfect Swedish, not using Finnish expressions and, above all, respecting persons of authority - especially her teacher. The shy Elina, proud and offended by so little attempt to understand her situation, rebels against the way Ms.Holm treats her. A battle of wills ensues, and Elina's only recourse is to refuse to cooperate. Nobody seems able to mediate between these two stubborn opponents.Again and again,Elina takes to wandering out into the moor to try and commune with her father. The situation becomes unbearable. Then, one day while out in the moor again, Elina sinks so deeply into the ground that it threatens to engulf her. At this moment Elina realises that she is not alone; she is loved and needed.When Elina goes to school the next morning, everything is quite different. Even Ms. Holm senses that her pupil will not be intimidated any longer.

I watched this movie at the Berlin film festival 2003 where it was awarded the Glass Bear (The prize of the children's jury). It is a well-told story about the problems experienced by a minority group in the society. In this case the finnish-speaking minority in Sweden in the beginning of the 1950's. The film makes it easy to understand the problems that can occur for such a minority group in an intolerant society. I believe this may be applicable for minority groups in many places of the world and thus it is possible for people around the world to recognize the situation. This is the debut for the director Klaus Härö in a full-length movie and I think he has succeeded well.