Familjehemligheter (2001) User Reviews

Good movie, great actors

[swerob · 7/10 · 3 October 2004]

Set in the 1970's, this is a story of a family falling apart, while trying to keep up the good spirit, hiding feelings and pretending that everything is okay. "Smile, though your heart is breaking", sort of.The foundation of their house is cracking as well, and if there is one big weakness in the script and the film, this is the one. Over-the-top symbolism is not my thing. But that flaw set aside, this is an engaging and believable story that keeps you hooked from the very first scene. Director Kjell-Åke Andersson lets it all unfold in a smooth, gentle pace, creating fine images without overdoing the camera work, and letting the faces of the actors speak – it's always nice to see a Swedish movie where people actually don't talk talk talk all the time. Like the scene where the family i sitting in front of the TV (watching classic 70s show "The Persuaders") bringing a sticky feeling to the viewer that these people have nothing to say to each other – and that's when Dad says: "We're having a good time, aren't we?". The feeling of time period is so excellent (the brownish colors, the haircuts, the hilarious jeans and so on) that the filmmakers easily could have left out a couple of the all-too- familiar standard collection of songs of the 70's, but that's just a small remark on the side. Saving the best for last: the acting is over all very good. Rolf Lassgård with his incredible presence, Maria Lundquist with her gently played-out neurotics. And the young actors portraying the children are excellent. The sulky face of Morgan, played by Linus Nord, stays with you for a while. Not great, but definitely good.

Worst parenting....Swedish soap opera.. with stupid ending.

[afterdarkpak · 5/10 · 26 July 2020]

I watched this movie under " cheating wife / adultery " category in many famous websites. the movie has some decent performance. also good quality production for swedish cinema of 2001.

anyhow , the story seems straight forward. about a swedish family fo 70s , having almost NO issues ? .. so a wife is happily? married to husband with decent job n income but impotent or maybe the wife has no desire to have sex with him? , also has kids who has different issues... the teen girl wanna have some fun , but she went for bad people . the only mature is the youngest son in the family, who saw mother having sex with another guy.

anyhow .. then a wife who was married for many years, and didnt think bad about kids and suddenly leave for another guy because of sex. until she felt wrong ?... and the husband was sad n almost heart broke that he wanna destroy his own house and didnt think about the kids n future?

then in the end , after she has some good sex with lover, she came back home n hug husband n everything is happy n sunshine ?

once Cheating /adultery happens in marriage.. its broke. it never works.. never.

A touching black comedy about family problems in mid 1970s Sweden

[eade · 9/10 · 15 November 2001]

A seemingly perfect family is trundling along in suburban Sweden.

Cracks are appearing in the walls of the house but it soon

becomes apparent that its not just the home that is crumbling. A touching film, laced with black humour but with plenty of rays of

hope, Familjehemligheter (Family Secrets) also captures the feel

of mid-1970s "utopian" Sweden.

under the surface

[doubleo7 · 19 March 2002]

Brilliant black comedy with simple but intelligent acting. This family is driven to insanity, especially the father when his wife realizes that she can't go on living in a boring suburb. After the explosion they found out they need each other more than ever.

More Swedish please!