A introduction to Sweden
A list of films which can serve as an introduction to life in Sweden or perhaps be a useful tool for getting to grips with the Swedish language. For the latter, you can choose to watch with Swedish or English subtitles.
Everything from Astrid Lindgren to Ingmar Bergman plus a few more modern films that have been very popular here.
Everything from Astrid Lindgren to Ingmar Bergman plus a few more modern films that have been very popular here.
List activity
725 views
• 10 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
30 titles
- DirectorOlle HellbomStarsStaffan GötestamLars SöderdahlAllan EdwallBrothers Jonatan and Skorpan lead a revolution against the tyrant Tengil in the magical afterlife land of Nangijala.Astrid Lindgren is still by a long shot the most popular children's book writer in Sweden. You won't find a Swedish bookshop that doesn't have a good selection of her novels. Many of her books have been filmed. This is one of the best.
- DirectorTage DanielssonStarsHanna ZetterbergDan HåfströmBörje AhlstedtRonja, the only child of robber chief Mattis must learn to survive the dangers of her local wilderness. In secret she also befriends Birk, the son of a rivaling robber Borka.Another Lindgren classic.
- DirectorGöran GraffmanStarsJonna LiljendahlLiv AlsterlundMonica NordquistMadicken is a Swedish girl from the upper level family, growing up during the time of first world war which did not include Sweden. She lives happily with her family, experiencing the world and making brave and crazy things.A favourite of my colleague, Gary Watson.
- DirectorRumle HammerichStarsTobias SwärdJimmy SandinPer OscarssonYoung Berra has a friend, Ulf. Ulf has a grandfather which he likes very much, he gives Ulf presents and takes him on fishing trips. Berra doesn't have a grandfather, but he wants one that's nice to him and who can teach him to whistle. Ulf knows where to find a grandfather - at a home for senior citizens. They go searching together and Berra finds a great pretend grandfather, Nils.This moving story of a young boy's friendship with an old man is shown on Swedish TV every Xmas.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsBertil GuvePernilla AllwinKristina AdolphsonTwo young Swedish children in the 1900s experience the many comedies and tragedies of their lively and affectionate theatrical family, the Ekdahls.Ingmar Bergman was the toast of art-house audiences throughout the world. But here in Sweden, this was the film that was his biggest box-office success and also won him an Oscar.
- DirectorKjell GredeStarsStellan SkarsgårdKatharina ThalbachKároly EperjesA story of how a Swedish diplomat saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during the final months of World War II.Included here as a history lesson. Diplomat Raoul Wallenberg's efforts saved many Jews from the concentration camps.
- DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsMichael NyqvistNoomi RapaceEwa FrölingInfluential industrialist Vanger's niece Harriet disappeared under mysterious circumstances 40 years ago. As a last attempt at solving the case, he hires investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist.Stig Larsson, who died tragically young, just as he was achieving international success, is one of the great success stories of modern Swedish fiction. This, the first novel in his trilogy, has since been re-filmed by Hollywood.
- DirectorBo WiderbergStarsCarl-Gustaf LindstedtSven WollterThomas HellbergWhen a police inspector is murdered in hospital, the investigation led by detective Martin Beck uncovers reports of police misconduct and a possible revenge motive.Back in the 1970s, husband and wife team Sjöwahl and Wahlöö created one of Sweden's most popular detectives, Martin Beck. He is still going strong, but this classic by Bo Widerberg is one of the most successful adaptations of his novels.
- DirectorPer FlyStarsEdda MagnasonSverrir GudnasonKjell BergqvistThe world famous Swedish jazz singer, actress and icon Monica Zetterlund's life through stardom and hardship.A recent biopic about the great Swedish jazz singer, Monica Zetterlund. Edda Magnusson is stupendous.
- DirectorJan TroellStarsMax von SydowLiv UllmannEddie AxbergSmåland, Sweden, mid-19th century. A farming family struggle with their rocky, unyielding land, and decide to embark on the arduous journey to new hope in America.Jan Troel's classic adaptation of the first of Wilhelm Moberg's books about life in the USA for Swedish immigrants.
- DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsLisa LindgrenMichael NyqvistEmma SamuelssonIn 1975, the dynamics of a Swedish commune begin to change upon the arrival of a beaten wife and her two kids.One of my favourite directors! Lukas Moodysson's films are always worth seeing.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsAnton GlanzeliusTomas von BrömssenAnki LidénIn the late '50s, young Ingemar learns a lot about life and himself when he is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle in a town full of eccentrics.A great favourite of Michael Jackson's! Lasse Hallström's poignant portrayal of childhood is a great favourite of mine too.
- DirectorRoy AnderssonStarsLars NordhStefan LarssonBengt C.W. CarlssonWhere are we humans going? A film poem inspired by the Peruvian poet César Vallejo. We meet people in the city. People trying to communicate, searching compassion and get the connection of small and large things.An experimental, unconventional, art-house director, Roy Andersson is one of the most interesting talents in Swedish cinema.
- DirectorGeir Hansteen JorgensenStarsMike AlmayehuMichalis KoutsogiannakisLia BoysenA 15 year old Somalian boy meets a 40 year old Iranian man on a refugee camp in Skåne, in the south of Sweden. With the threat of deportation hanging over them they decide to the take their fates in their own hands and together they go on a journey in the Swedish summer.Peter Birro wrote this amusing and moving story about the life of recently arrived immigrants.
- StarsAdam LundgrenAdam PålssonBjörn KjellmanA story of love and death. Rasmus, 19, escapes to Stockholm and finds love in the religious Benjamin just as the AIDS epidemic hits the city's gay community.Stand-up comedian, novelist and gay activist: Jonas Gardell is a household name in Sweden and enormously popular. This adaptation of his novel about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in Sweden has been a big critical and popular success. It does not pull any punches.
- StarsKenneth BranaghRichard McCabeJeany SparkUnable to unsee the dark crimes he's tasked to investigate, Wallander's job comes at a cost to his family and relationships.Henning Mankell's novels about world-weary Skåne cop, Kurt Wellander, have quite rightly been a great international success. They've been filmed here in Sweden, but here is the BBC's version with Branagh, to my mind, doing a very fine job.
- DirectorDaniel WallentinStarsEvin AhmadAnwar AlbayatiSofia BachHalim, a young boy who tries to find himself after the death of his mother.An adaptation of Jonas Hassen Khemiri's debut novel. Amusing, perceptive and touching.
- DirectorKjell SundvallStarsRolf LassgårdLennart JähkelJarmo MäkinenA Stockholm cop moves back home to his brother near Norway and Finland. He investigates out of control reindeer poaching. He confiscates rifles with no permits. Everybody, even his brother and local cops, are against him. Things escalate.If you want to know about life in the north of Sweden, this is the film for you. A great public success herestarring one of Sweden's most popular actors Rolf Lassgård.
- DirectorKjell SundvallStarsMikael PersbrandtMichael KitchenPernilla AugustYoung police officer Roger is on the trail of the international master assassin, while the assassin follows his plan to murder Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.A conspiracy thriller about the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme, starring the very charismatic Michael Persbrandt. He is probably best known internationally for his role in The Hobbit.
- DirectorColin NutleyStarsHelena BergströmRikard WolffSven WollterA rural village is divided when an extraordinary couple move into a mansion.English director Colin Nutley along with his wife, actor Helena Bergström, have made many popular films depicting various aspects of life in Sweden. This was their biggest success. So much so that they made two sequels.
- DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsKåre HedebrantLina LeanderssonPer RagnarOskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.Classic Nordic Noir. A vampire thriller set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg.
- DirectorGabriela PichlerStarsNermina LukacMilan DragisicJonathan LampinenA young Eastern European immigrant, working in Sweden, is faced with a painful choice when she's laid off from her factory in the name of efficiencies.The title says it all. A grim portrayal of life at the bottom of the food chain in modern Sweden.
- DirectorLasse ÅbergStarsLasse ÅbergLottie EjebrantJon SkolmenDespite a harrowing fear of flying Stig-Helmer decides to go to the Canary Islands. On the plane, he meets the boasting Norwegian Ole and a load of Swedes on their way to holiday where they will meet a lot of difficulties and situations.If you want to know what makes Swedes laugh, here is the answer!
- DirectorMikael HåfströmStarsAndreas WilsonHenrik LundströmGustaf SkarsgårdA teenage boy expelled from school for fighting arrives at a boarding school where the systematic bullying of younger students is encouraged as a means to maintain discipline, and decides to fight back.Another favourite of Gary's. Based on Jan Guillou's novel about life in an exclusive private school.
- DirectorKay PollakStarsMichael NyqvistFrida HallgrenHelen SjöholmA famous international conductor returns to his small childhood town in Sweden for early retirement. He's asked to help with the church choir. He affects the lives of all in the choir.The Swedes love music. Visiting artists are always commenting about how attentive Swedish audiences are.
They also love to sing in choirs. So this fine film is an obvious choice.