Britt-Marie var här

A very enjoyable movie that I was reluctant to watch. After wading through 762 pages of the book that seemed to have been written for prisoners on death row that had no escape, the movie was a breath of fresh air. It certainly was not Mary Poppins were every 12 seconds you were hit over the head with goodness. The movie expected more from you. If you melded at all with Britt-Marie and began to see who she was, a look of helplessness on her face told more that a 15 page explanation in the book. After loosing her sister who was the only person who she shared dreams with and never being able to find that again she stopped dreaming. And after a while you forget to look. Then if you are lucky you realize that maybe you can dream again.

First off, the elephant in the room, books are always better than films. And I didn't read the book, but that is a truism.

I found this by accident and it was a happy one - for me. I rated it 9 stars to make up for the lower rating that I think are unfair. I would have given it 8.

All of the actors - including the gaggle of kids - were well suited to their rolls. Vega played by Stella Oyoko Bengtsson was quietly brilliant in her addressing Britt-Marie in problems that were facing both of them. From the lips of children .....

I loved loved loved the ending where winning was defined in a way that is more realistic and humane that it usually is in today's harsh world. Not at all in black and white, but in a soft nuance that we should (and I hate that word) all take away from this sweet film and keep with us for the rest of our lives - how ever long they may be.

As other people have pointed out here, the book gives you more layers and background information and the film would probably work best if you read the book first, that way, you will be able to understand what's going on much better.

The acting was wonderful, the casting spot on. The children were delightful and not over the top.

So many aspects of the book had to be stripped out in order for a relatively linear story to survive and make sense in just 97 minutes. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the film immensely, watching it in Swedish with subtitles. The way the Swedes talk to each other, e.g. very simple, bare, stripped down reactions, underlines the emotional intensity. They might not say much, but there's a lot bubbling inside them - and this would be better understood if one had read the book first.

Throughout the film, I was rooting for Britt-Marie. I adore films where repressed and downtrodden characters slowly unfold - like a chrysalis turning into a butterfly.

What I would like to read now is a book called "What Britt-Marie Did Next". I feel there is more potential in that character.

Your opinion of this film probably does depend on if you've read the book. I did read it and to be honest didn't love it but nearly everything I did like is missing from the film. Firstly the Britt in the book was far more disfuntional and clueless but this was what drew you to her and made you like her. Then the next best thing was her relationship and reliance on the person who arranged the job that she took. This was such a pivotal part of the story that it would be like making a film of the Titanic but never mentioning that it's a boat. I realise you cannot use everything that's in a book but to leave such an important part where so much of the humour came from is such an own goal it's ludicrous. What your left with is a film that is very serviceable and workman like but with very little else.

Even though it doesn't capture the complexity of Britt-Maries character, presented in the book this is still a charming little movie about the angst getting old alone and all of a sudden having to build your own life after living 40 years for someone else.