This film is based on a novel written by Bille August and Ulla Isaksson. Martin is a well known and highly respected classical composer and conductor in his early sixties. Barbara is the first violinist and in her fifties. They meet at one of his performances. There is a strong mutual attraction between them and they both divorce their current mates and get married. They settle in Sweden and work together on his composing. Five years later while working together on an opera, Martin is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Over time, his condition worsens and his personality changes.
This is good!! It’s not about your usual couple in their twenties!! It’s about a middle aged couple, their honeymoon and their married lives. Barbara really loves Martin, he can't help what his happening to his memory and personality. An illness like Alzheimer’s is catastrophic and being a caregiver is also difficult. The person you married is gradually fading away into someone else?? There is tension, stress, anxiety and exhaustion for the caregiver. It’s difficult to contain frustration and anger. It's a struggle for both of them to hold onto the love that brought them together. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
113 min, Drama directed and written by Bille August with Sven Wolter, Viveka Seldahl, Reine Brynolfsson, Peter Engman, Kristina Tornqvist, Lisa Werllinder, Klas Dahlstedt, Lo Wahl, Linda Kallgren, Jonna Ekdahl, Alba and Asta Kamma August, Claes Ahlstedt, Gabriel Eriksson.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 1,058 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 85% with 27 critics 84% audience with 1,048 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Metacritic 72 out of 100 with 15 critics (12 positive, 3 mixed), Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 32 ratings, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, netflix.com 3 1/2* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in Gothenburg and Uddevalla, Vastra Gotalands Ian, Sweden. Also known as En Sang for Martin in Swedish.
Special Note: In Sweden, there are places for people to go to get rest and health-care is free. Mainly, the emotional side of the illness is portrayed and how it affects the person who loves them the most. Making life as normal as possible for the is about all that can be done but sometimes the other person doesn’t see this effort. Many times, friends and family are not there to help and give respite to the caregiver. They begin to disappear?? In the US there are additional worries. What will happen if their loved one needs to go into a home, how will the care be and is the care affordable?
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