Framed to Perfection XLII

NILS KARISSON PYSSLING (1990)

Director: Staffan Götestam

Cinematographer: Rolf Lindström

Awkward.

The two knee-high leads in this film have more onscreen chemistry than a filthy council estate meth lab, meanwhile there’s more unintentional, erm, romantic tension than your average b.s. Hollywood rom-com featuring overpaid grown-up stars. 

That’s Sweden for you!

I found this cute family adventure during one of my usual bored YouTube surfing sessions. Some rabbit holes go very deep indeed. I’m pretty sure it’s not “AI slop”, so that’s a good start. It’s based on an Astrid Lindgren book, seemingly about a boy who befriends a Borrowers-style miniature orphan girl and helps her improve her lonely existence. Awww! I’m pretty sure there are now more adaptations of Lindgren’s many works than ships did once set sail for Troy.

Eat you heart out, J K Rowling!

Anyway, the two leads are very compelling, with Jonatan Lindoff having the plucky tomboy energy I’m sure every kid’s movie director dreams of discovering; whereas Oskar Löfkvist displays a measured stillness (except when he’s not) that one hopes to eventually see in a raw one-man play at an independent theatre known only to hipsters, your mother, and Richard Burton’s ghost.

I’m guessing, in reality, neither lead pursued acting as a career once puberty hit.

Overall, it’s an adorable little way to pass the time, which I will be sure to watch again when I’m feeling down. The shared bathing scene will probably have viewers in English-speaking nations up-in-arms, but honestly what doesn’t these days? So very tired.

Oh and I called the cat coming to the rescue during the rat home-invasion sequence towards the end, because cats are awesome.

You can find the film here.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!