The Soccer Nanny (2011) User Reviews

Smart, unconventional and heartwarming.

[seanparkerfilms · 6/10 · 3 September 2011]

I saw Au Pair, Kansas at "Action on Film" this year and thought it was the highlight of the entire week-long fest. Even though it looked like a pretty worthwhile film from the trailer, I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed it -- and it being made on a budget never crossed my mind.

The story is wonderfully unconventional, constantly surprising you with inspired moments that really hit the mark. And even though the projection conditions at AOF were less than ideal, the cinematography was clearly amongst the most absolutely gorgeous stuff you'll likely see in this budget range, certainly holding up against (and surpassing) many mainstream releases.

I appreciated the respect the script has for an intelligent audience -- clichés are thrown out the window to the point where I almost never could predict what would happen next, yet it always managed to feel like a natural (and often touching) outcome. There's a few spots that didn't resonate fully, and sometimes the slightly more goofy aspects come at odds with the more somber material, but it works far far more than it misses. The end result is a film that I really can't say I've seen anything quite like. As a filmmaker myself, there are a few things I can learn from pieces like this.

Seek it out! It's charming, funny and heartwarming. If this is JT O'Neal's first feature-length outing as a writer/director, I hope we get the chance to see many more.

An odd little movie, but not unenjoyable.

[CabbageCustard · 5/10 · 26 May 2023]

This is a movie I first watched many years on some streaming platform or other (I forget which one) and really enjoyed at that time. So, when it popped up again some years later, I thought I'd give it a second viewing. I was left wondering what it was that impressed me so much on my first viewing.

This is quite a strange little film. The end credits reveal that it was written as part of a university film project and that explains a lot. It's not a bad movie. It's just different.

Essentially, it tells the story of a young Norwegian man who comes to the USA from Norway (obviously) to serve as an au pair for a widowed mother and her two young sons who live in central Kansas on a buffalo ranch. The young man is a bit of a soccer fanatic and much of the film centers around whether he is gay or not and what exactly his intentions might be towards the two sons. The movie serves up quite an odd collection of characters and the two boys (one of whom is a young teen) are the most well balanced among them. There is the Norwegian chappy himself, who goes around nursing a soccer ball and spouting 'old Norwegian sayings, which I doubt any Norwegian has ever uttered; the widowed mother who, quite frankly, is a sour, repressed pain in the rear end and extremely unlikeable; the domineering, nasty little lady sheriff who is very suspicious of the Norwegian chap and likes to throw her weight and prejudices around; the bigotted boof-headed gym coach who has a thing for the divorced Mom and, best of all, the large Hispanic transvestite who is in the cast because, well why not? We all know that every little mid-western American town has at least one stereotypical transvestite to add flavor to civic occasions. Oh... I almost forgot to mention that the ghost of the dead husband/father also frequently appears to offer folksy advice to his grieving widow - who, we discover, may not be grieving because he is dead, but because he was actually a bi-sexual man.

The movie is obviously trying to make a point about homosexuality and homophobia, but it is done in such a simultaneously ham-fisted and convoluted manner that you'll be left puzzling over what the message actually is. Still, for an obviously low budget movie, this one has pretty good production values, one or two good actors and doesn't go long enough to become boring. It is saddled with an excruciatingly awful soundtrack though, full of forgettable twangy guitar ballads that I suspect did nothing for the artist's careers. Still, it's easy enough to tune the tedious warbling out as you follow the actions of the characters and ponder whether or not the Norwegian soccer aficionado will manage to turn the homophobic townsfolk and the grieving mother and sons into fellow soccer fans and thus arrive at a happy ending.

A beautiful, realistic movie - a must see!! ;o)

[siwmadlove · 3 November 2011]

I really enjoyed this movie - the fact that it is a low budget movie does not show! It is beautifully captured, realistic and very sweet! I liked the backgrounds, settings and the music, living in a small town myself - it felt very real!

The characters are very fitting for the storyline, you really feel like you get to know them and their personalities - even thought the movie is pretty short! You kinda form a relationship with them while watching! You share the emotions with and towards the different characters - it "pulls" you in! ;o)

Thank you for a great movie experience! I don't want to spoil anything - just see it for yourself, you won't be disappointed!! ;o)

Misrepresentation!

[minilanecok · 1/10 · 30 May 2015]

Netflix rated this as "G", despite language and content I did NOT want my children to see. It is described as a family film about a soccer loving au pair from Norway. My kids are 5 and 7. They play soccer. What's not to like? Right? Wrong! What this movie was, was the "it's OK to be gay" message delivered with a heavy dose of sexual innuendo. This is NOT a family film. Sexual preference and morals aside, the language and sexual references alone make this definitely not a G rated movie. The dead father is bi, they accuse the nanny of being gay and a pedophile, the mom is messing around with the coach, they hint that the youngest son is gay, they reference abortion, and the drag queen... well, that's funny. All in all I am extremely disgusted by this movie and the fact that it was advertised as a family film. Disgusted.

An ambitious, funny, scenic melodrama about family, sex and understanding

[m_musel · 7/10 · 16 January 2012]

This movie was a surprising gift. Screened among a small group of friends, we laugh out loud together and we we moved by the family at the heart of this film. A mother and two sons are dealing with the recent death of their husband and father. While the movie deals thoughtfully with complicated issues of families, the arrival of the Soccer Nanny brings joy (and soccer) to the family, the community and film. I am impressed at how the movie incorporates comedy without selling short the difficult questions about how families related to each other. At the end of our screening, my friends sat around for 30 minutes - sharing our reactions and our understanding of what makes family. The conversation resulted in few surprises hearing my friends and their insights.

Also, this movie has beautiful images - amusing scenes of colorful cross-cultural misunderstanding and mournful scenes of rural and personal isolation. The movie wrestles with loss with a good humor and confidence that the future is full of love. As someone who marvels at the open prairie of western Minnesota, the film features Kansas - is big sky possibilities and its remote geography in ways that are beautiful and convey the story.

I watched on netflix - - - children's and family movies

[cold-31385 · 1/10 · 28 May 2015]

Oops, Netflix flubbed this one. Poorly written and assembled into a story line. Like this ***Spoiler*** Helen accuses her Au Pair of diddling the kids because she is a paranoid homophobe. When she finds the kids with him, takes the youngest (around 12) home and dashes off for a night of romance. She leaves her 12yr old him alone and leaves her 16 yr old with someone she thinks molested him? Huh, what? The other reviews had this as a great and moving story? What? I did find it ironic that a former pornstar plays a homophobe. One last detail, but I think the movie had bison and not buffalo. I might be mistaken on that but not on the wasted time that the movie stole from me.

Hilarious - a must watch so bad it's good film

[samwent · 1/10 · 10 December 2015]

Where to start? If you're a fan of stuff like The Room this is a must see. The acting is atrocious across the board, side characters come and go with no explanation, motivations and feelings change scene to scene or occasionally line by line. I would say it seems like the script was dropped at one point and reassembled in random order but it's more like this film is the result of a three word story written by a group of people in separate rooms who have never met. However due to some delicate subject matter such as quite extreme homophobia, transphobia, the fact the film is basically pedophile apologism and features a romantic scene between a divorcée and a cat it is best watched with friends who are not easily offended. That this film has no drinking game (that I can find) is a crime.

Boring and 80's-ish

[andrewhalweg-25824 · 2/10 · 31 July 2022]

It was actual kind of disturbing; it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I think this was someone's erotic dream more than it was a creative screenplay.

If you like movies in the here and now, this one may be for you...

[gettingtobeme · 9/10 · 10 January 2011]

I was fortunate enough to be part of a private screening of this movie along with a group of people from our local PFLAG chapter. While I must admit, I was a bit dubious about the plot and the fact that Traci Lords was in it (I kept hearing 1970's porn music in my head...). However, I was truly surprised to learn that this independently-made movie was touching and quite realistic. There was romance, and many of the actors ran the gamut of emotions, doing it quite well. The plot was wonderfully written, and even a bit surprising. I think that the actors cast were nearly perfect for their roles. The movie was beautifully shot, and played with the quality and look of a multi-million dollar blockbuster. The soundtrack went well with the scenery and is one I'd actually put on MY iPod! Best of all, this movie touched on very real, very current issues in our society. I think the writer/director did a fantastic job of keeping this aspect of the film very real and appropriate. This film made me laugh, cry, and was thought-provoking in many ways. I'd highly recommend it!

Absolute Creepshow

[evanakin · 1/10 · 27 June 2023]

This nightmare of a "movie" is so incredibly creepy and feels like some kind of erotic wish fulfillment rather than a comedy. The scene with the boy in his underwear being drawn by a room of men, and then the main character takes a picture to blackmail the 7 year old later, is so weird and uncomfortable that I worry the writer or director is suppressing some urges or using this as a vent. This is genuinely awful, the costume design wants you to think Kansas is clearly done by someone who drove by Kansas on while on an ambien. You'd be better off snorting broken glass than subjecting yourself to this brain melting ridiculousness. If you pay to see this you should have your license taken away.

Great film

[afmproject · 14 August 2011]

I can't recommend this film highly enough. Traci Lords has become quite the actress and brings a great performance to a woman who feels betrayed by a husband who she wonders if he ever loved her and who left her all too soon. Trying to give her boys a role model she hires a male Norwegian au pair. This is a movie about dealing with loss and coming to terms with it. The acting is top notch, the small Kansas town is charming with some great scenery, and the writing is believable.

The au pair is obsessed with soccer and it is through soccer that he bonds with the kids and much of the rest of the town. Meanwhile the mom (Lords) becomes suspicious of the au pair for a variety of reasons. One device used through out the film is that of having the husband speak both as a ghost and via video tapes. It effectively establishes his relationships with both his wife and his kids. You won't be sorry you watched this film.

Boring, unclear plot, not funny, aggravating

[cfelmet-28790 · 1/10 · 20 September 2015]

This movie legitimately sucks. Unfortunately I was forced to sit through it and I could not stop trying to imagine ways anyone could make it more boring and unpleasant. OK maybe I'm being a bit harsh, or maybe my standard for a decent movie is too high (doubtful), but this predictable drama/comedy (comedy, if you find a European guy trying to act cute comical) was pretty bad. Definitely aimed at an audience of middle aged, lonely women who don't watch many movies. Just when I thought it was over, it kept dragging on and on. This movie legitimately sucks. Unfortunately I was forced to sit through it and I could not stop trying to imagine ways anyone could make it more boring and unpleasant. OK maybe I'm being a bit harsh, or maybe my standard for a decent movie is too high (doubtful), but this predictable drama/comedy (comedy, if you find a European guy trying to act cute comical) was pretty bad. Definitely aimed at an audience of middle aged, lonely women who don't watch many movies. Just when I thought it was over, it kept dragging on and on.

A recently widowed young woman with two young sons feels the need for a male in the household. She hires a Norwegian Au pair to come live with them on their farm in Kansas.

[crobinette1 · 8/10 · 15 July 2011]

This is a very moving, intriguing and quietly funny film. It is a story about family, identity, grief and longing. Considering the low budget and limited production time, the cinematography is amazing and the production design is quite classy. The performances are impressive especially by the youngest of players. The two young brothers deliver some of the finest acting I have seen in film lately. It is the first film I have seen Tracy Lords in and she did a fine job of playing the widowed single Mom. This is a tale intricately woven which unfolds slowly, yet at the perfect pace. It is compelling, surprising and quite satisfying. It's the kind of film that stays with you and forces you to think about it and savor it. A quite well done little gem.

A must see!

[Slosborne1 · 10/10 · 21 November 2011]

Au Pair Kansas is a beautifully written and directed movie by JT O'Neal. O'Neal captured the beauty and simplicity of Kansas while contrasting it with a raw storyline. Brilliant!

Au Pair Kansas is refreshingly hilarious and has many great one-liners. "Super good" anyone?

It also has a wonderful balance of drama and comedy. Everyone can relate to this film in one aspect or another.

The cast has a magnetic chemistry and will make you feel like you're right there with them. Anyone looking for a wonderful, worthwhile movie look no further than Au Pair Kansas!

JT O'Neal shines at NIFF

[mmmicciche · 9 November 2011]

I enjoyed this film at the 2011 Naples International Film Festival last week. I was particularly impressed with the writer/director, JT O'Neal, who held an informative and entertaining Q&A afterwards. O'Neal is someone to watch in the independent film world. He is a wonderful storyteller, highly intelligent and very personable. The tales he told about making this film are almost as wonderful as the film itself. It is a story of seeking and finding happiness after loss. It reminds us that human beings need to play, to laugh and to love in order to get the most out of what life has to offer. The optimistic soccer nanny from Norway is the catalyst for this and you will love him. The two sons in the film (Atticus and Beau) also put in terrific performances.

Warm & Fun

[tylakar · 8/10 · 12 January 2016]

I managed to catch this movie on Netflix. While flicking through the selection catalogue, a still of Traci Lords popped up. I recognised her straight away, and knew I had to watch it. Now before I continue I have to say I am a massive Traci Lords fan. I have followed her from her rise as the biggest name in the adult film industry to her re-birth as a legitimate actress. This may be the reason I have a bias towards her.

In any case, I have also gone through all of the reviews, both negative and positive. Since others have covered everything here in great detail, I will just add briefly to it and say I also enjoyed the film. It was a feel good movie that ultimately succeeded. There were parts in it that did not seem realistic, but it did not take away from the overall experience. Traci looked as beautiful as ever, and it is great to see how well her career as an actress has progressed throughout the year. I would recommend this.

A Scandinavian delight!

[disneywatts · 23 September 2011]

I saw this movie at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival in Southern California and think it would do great at the major film festivals. I enjoyed this humorous look at a Midwestern town that has a mostly Scandinavian heritage. The interplay between a freshly arrived Norwegian and the Swedish Americans of the town of Lindsborg, Kansas was thoroughly entertaining. I thought all parts were well acted, particularly Traci Lords. The dynamics of a family coming to grips with the loss of the father was heart felt and emotional. What made the film extra special to me was all the details in the dialog and background concerning Nordic culture as well as a story well told of dealing with grief and moving on. The movie does cover some serious issues so I recommend it for mature audiences.

Bravo!

[andrewhalweg · 10/10 · 29 December 2011]

Knowing that this was the debut for this director, I will admit I went into it not expecting a masterpiece...I was wrong. From the opening credits, it appeared to have been produced by a major film company. The story grabs you right from the first scene and never lets go. The director does an outstanding job building the characters at the onset and makes you form opinions about them immediately. I fell in love with one of the main characters, Norway, in the opening scene. The way he talks, acts and moves across the screen makes you want to smile every time you comes on screen. Kudos to this cast, O'Neal could not have found better actors for this film. I cant wait to see what he does next, put this on your MUST SEE list!

Wonderful film

[david-faloon · 9/10 · 4 March 2012]

In brief: it was absolutely fantastic.

Au Pair Kansas is a very well written and directed movie by JT O'Neal. The film tells the story of a woman dealing with the death of her husband and wondering if he ever really loved her. To try and give her boys a positive role model she hires a soccer mad male Norwegian au pair.

It has a perfect balance of comedy and drama. If you do not laugh and also shed at least one tear when watching this film then you are really missing the plot.

The film captures the beauty of this area of Kansas and such starkness as well as beauty relates well with the story being told. The shots are amazing, the cast great, and the humor and pace perfect. The characters all have depth and are very believable. It really is a great film with a few quirky bits to keep you thinking.

I could go on, but I think you should see it for yourself. You will not regret it.

Interesting and thoughtful story

[rockyd103 · 8/10 · 7 July 2011]

Some of the highlights for me were the touching acting abilities of the children, the humor brought to life by the soccer player and the subtle story line. The array of characters that were brought to this plot were colorful and at time a bit hard to imagine being accepted by this small midwestern town, for example the drag queen. I thought that the widow's inner life and the realities of having married a bi man would have been interesting to see developed more fully. She came across to me as somewhat one dimensional at times and yet it could have been her grief that gave her the impression of having been "shut down" emotionally. I thought that the coach brought a great deal of sexual interest to the story as did the deceased father.

A must see heartwarming dramedy set in Kansas

[pogfilms · 9/10 · 27 May 2011]

I recently watched "Au Pair Kansas" and I must say I was extremely impressed by this American indie movie. It's great all around. It has heart, it flows really well, it shows a great narrative sense and I found it very emotional and unique. The actors were wonderful. The kid who plays the older son, Spencer Daniels, is an amazing young actor and Tracy Lords was brilliant as a bereaved widow grappling with the homosexuality of her late husband. She truly blew me away. The Norwegian actor is a great find too. As a "fish out of water" blundering au pair he offers a delicate balance between humor and genuine emotion. We don't often get to see a movie taking place on a buffalo farm in a little Swedish community, it is a unique combination the writer/director makes good use of. It's a wonderful idea to wedge in a Norwegian soccer player into this mix. The result is original, quirky at times when they all play soccer, but also sad and nostalgic at others when both worlds collide. There is a real poignancy and depth to the movie, which at the core deals with overcoming the loss of a loved one. I especially like the scene when the older son gets a tape from his late Dad for his birthday, which I find really moving. What I like about that movie is that the writer/director succeeds at exploring complex, profound themes and emotions while keeping us entertained all along. The piece is heightened by a magnificent score the versatility of which surprised me. The images of the wilderness are very beautiful as well, there's a magical warmth to the cinematography and the shots of endless fields under a big blue sky, it made me want to take a trip to Kansas. There's a distinctive voice to "Au Pair Kansas" and I can't wait to see what else this talented writer/director has in store!

Finally, I got to see the end...

[edrock-3 · 8/10 · 6 February 2013]

I had the pleasure of seeing the first half or so of this film at the North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 2011. I was completely taken in by the lovingly developed characters and the beautifully captured scenes of winter in Kansas--so many shots of rolling hills painted in golden sunlight.

Just as the action was picking up, the power went out. It didn't just blink; an accident nearby took the whole block out, but the audience stayed put, hoping we would regain power and finish the film. Sadly, the theater officials confirmed that the festival was done for the night. They rescheduled the film, but I was unable to make those showings.

Understandably, I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to finally finish a film whose first half I truly loved.

As I watched the first half again, I remembered those lovingly created characters. Traci Lords gave a stellar performance as Helen, a widowed mom with a lot of frustration and anger. Håvard Lilleheie similarly played the part of Oddmund, an au pair from Norway, obsessed with soccer... and with unstoppable optimism and enlightenment. But is he straight or gay?

Things begin to move faster in the second half of the movie. As things get moving, Oscar Quintero (the fabulous Kay Sedia and Taco Chick) brings a bit of extra comedy, and things get sticky. Under-age drinking, accusations of molestation, estranged ex-wives, and Swedish dancing ensue. And why is Helen so angry? You'll have to check it out and see...

As Oddmund would say, "_Au Pair Kansas_ is Super Good!"

J.T. O'Neal Has Hit A Home Run

[lennylab · 9/10 · 15 January 2014]

The quality of the film Au Pair, Kansas aka (The Soccer Nanny) photography is beautifully shot and cleverly done from the opening buffalo scenes to the cultural dancing.

The story lines and structure flow nicely and the acting is extremely well done. The character choices are very clever, funny and a reflect great statement!!!

The music score selections fit each desired scene perfectly and the costume and set designs reflect that of originality and fit very well with the time period involved.

Overall, I found "Au Pair, Kansas" to be an entertaining, comical and at times emotionally moving piece especially with regard to the sixteenth birthday tape segment.

The overall underlying message of the film was equally impressive.

Kudos to J.T. O'Neal

Both Funny and Deeply Moving

[lincoln-15 · 9/10 · 22 February 2012]

I recently viewed this beautiful movie at a film festival in Sydney, Australia. I think its message will stay with me for a long time.

While the story is rich and multi-layered the primary storyline is about a mother of two sons who seems lost in a world of observing the world through the filter of a past betrayal and loss. A filter she sees everyone and everything through. In an attempt to fix her life (and everything in it) she hires a soccer loving Norwegian au pair and heaps upon him the responsibility to repair her world. The ramifications are many! Every action of this hired "magic bullet" make him either an angel or the devil in regard to her expectations.

It is a low budget film but there is not a hint of compromise anywhere. The high quality picture is always in focus, the sound quality is even and clear, and the editing seamless. The writing and directing are world class. The actors are all amazing and well suited for their roles.

The genre is "universal" and hard to classify. This quirky film has the American Midwest humor of "Fargo," the soccer teambuilding skills of "Guys And Balls," the community spirit of "As It Is In Heaven," and the serious elements of "The Lost Language of Cranes."

If you are looking for something different and wonderful, I would highly recommend this film. It's amazing.

An indy gem I saw at the Cannes film festival!

[shooter6 · 9/10 · 28 May 2011]

I have just returned from the Cannes Film Festival where I saw a wonderful American Indy movie called Au Pair Kansas playing at the Palais Des Festival. It's a quirky and poignant dramedy impressively made for under a million dollars about a Norwegian Au Pair rescuing an American family from the grief of losing their father by encouraging them to band together and form a soccer team. In the era of prequels sequels and remakes this is the kind of gem that is unfortunately hard to see outside of the festival circuit these days so I hope it makes it to the theatres or local DVD stores so it can find the audience it deserves. Set amidst the sweeping plains of Kansas in an old Swedish community near a buffalo farm homestead this is a world you rarely get to see at the movies, especially in this budget range where locations are usually limited to the interior of a house. There are strong performances all around from the cast, but I especially enjoyed the performance from Traci Lords (yes, that Traci Lords!) who plays the grieving widow with a sadness and vulnerability that will surely win her more leading roles in dramas and dramedies. I could literally feel her pain as a distraught mother grieving her husband and terrified of losing her two young sons to their own pain and confusion. To counter this raw family emotion enters the soccer obsessed Norwegian Au Pair who will mend the families woes through his genuine need to connect people through his beloved game of soccer. However, before he gets the family to reconnect and have the confidence to face the future together there are a few false accusations and misunderstandings along the way that will have you laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time. Watch out for the art teacher character who doesn't quite know which team to play for, the girls or the boys! Despite the narrative going from drama to comedy and back again the overall tone of the film is always nicely balanced and true to the subject matter at hand. For a small indy film the cinematography is highly impressive with many beautiful panoramic shots of the expansive plains of Kansas. It's rare to see a first feature film with this much confidence and elegance.