Framed to Perfection XI

MIT LIV SOM HUND (1985)

Director: Lasse Hallström

Cinematographer: Jörgen Persson

Whoops!

I wonder how many fires in nature are started accidentally by bored kids innocently fucking around, as I assume it’s a fair few.

Another instalment in my apparent coming-of-age season, which I think is unconsciously acting as a calming influence after my recent encounter with some dismissive rehab people. It’s going to take awhile to rebuild my trust with authority figures, it seems. Being transported back to a time to before everything turned to shit is, indeed, helping me get through life right now.

I’m not using the subtitles or any English dub (although UK arthouse distributors are usually too snobbish to include the latter), so the best I can discern so far is that the youngest of two brothers is sent off to stay with family or family friends or a foster family after his physically and mentally ill mother finally has a major breakdown. Cut to scenes of jovial pastoral life blah blah blah.

Still, it is providing the necessary therapy I need.

I’d like to note that the Swedes did the whole “burgeoning transgender friend” thing long before Billy Elliot did. Actually, if you chuck in Kes’ bird watching instead of ballet, then Billy Elliot really isn’t very unique at all.

Ha! Take that, dancing boy.

I was put off watching this film for years and years, simply due to my irrational aversion to its title: “My Life as a Dog”, in English. It just confused my tiny mind. I mean, it’s clearly not an animated family film about a talking dog, so what gives?! Hmm, thank goodness I’m pretty, that’s all I’ll say.

So, yes, I’m glad I’ve finally gotten round to it, as Hallström and Persson work very well together in creating disorderly urban and gentle rural life under the same roof. I could start a whole new blog dedicated to how pretty this film is alone, but I shall stick to the above shot of violent drama, infused with my favourite crepuscular light, instead.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

UPDATE: I say a few extra positive words about this charming little film in this issue of The Whittling Post Digest.