Becoming Astrid 2018

     The setting of the film is the earlier life of Astrid during the 1920’s, it is Swedish-made and English subtitled.  It is a biopic of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren as a teenager before she became a writer.  She is the author of numerous children’s books and creator of Pippi Longstocking.  Astrid begins an affair with her older and married boss.  She becomes pregnant and an event like this was seriously frowned upon because of the strict views of society at this time.   Astrid learns how difficult the social pressures can be and they have unforeseen consequences.   Astrid struggles but she gets her life on the right track.  She uses her experiences to become one of the world’s most successful authors of children’s books.  

     Astrid Lindgren was born November 14, 1907 in Vimmerby, Sweden.  She died January 28, 2001 from a viral infection at the age of 94.  She had become blind before her death.  Many of her books are based on her family, childhood memories and landscapes.  Her parents were Samuel August Ericsson and Hanna Jonsson.  She had two sisters, Sina and Ingegerd plus a brother Gunnar.  She moved to Stockholm from Vimmerby and she studied to become a typist and stenographer.   Her Lasse son was in the care of foster family in Copenhagen but she brought him home with her when his foster mom developed a heart problem.  She married her employer, Sture Lingren and later they had a child Karin.  Her son Lasse studied to become an engineer but later worked for a company that managed the rights to Astrid's theatrical and film scripts.  He took the last name of Lingren, he was born December 4, 1926 and he died July 22, 1986 at the age of 59.  4 ½* (I really liked this movie)   

       

123 min, Bio directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen with Alba August, Trine Dyrholm, Henrik Rafaelsen, Bjorn Gustafsson, Marius Damslev, Willy Ramnek Petri, Liv LeMoyne, Sofia Karemyr, Mira Mitchell, Maria Fahl-Vikander, Maria Alm Norell, Lars Varinger, Ericson, Li Bradhe.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 96% critic 84% audience, The Washington Post 3* out of 5* Michael O’Sullivan, 71% out of 100 with 8 critics, SF Chronicle sitting up in seat Mick LaSalle, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 3 reviews, Common Sense Media age 15+ 3* out of 5* (positive 3*, role models 3*, violence 1*, sex 4*, drinking, drugs & smoking 2*. Chicago Tribune 3.5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Schloss Marquardt, Marquardt, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany and Vastra Gotaland, Sweden.  Director Pernille Fischer Christensen read a newspaper article about the youth of Astrid Lindgren.  He learned that she became a young mother and her baby was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Alba August in the role of Astrid is the daughter of Danish director Bille August and Swedish actress and director Pernilla August.  The screenplay was written by Director Christensen and co-written by her husband Kim Fupz Akeson.  Kim is also a writer of children’s books like Lindgren.