Come back soon.
Well then...
- Thank you. - Don't mention it.
There...
- Maja, Miss Fagerdal has a brother. - Yes?
Sometimes he can be...
No. It was nothing.
- Goodbye, Mother. - Goodbye.
Ernestine Fagerdal wigmaker
This is my brother Algot's watch. He collects watches.
- Be careful now. - Yes, Miss Fagerdal.
lf you, Maja, are as gifted a maid as your mama-
-then one day you shall help me with my wigs.
Why can they not wash their hair properly, before selling it?
Maja, hurry, girl - open me up!
One cent per flea...l'll pay you.
But you must help me with my liniment.
Just think how l'm made to suffer through the uncleanliness of others.
Algot, did you remember the liniment?
- Yes. - Is Maja to rub your back down, too?
Not this evening.
Close the flap for Christ's sake!
- A cold... - That's your third helping, Sigge.
Bloody right you are. Tasty!
- We don't even get live ammunition. - l should hope not!
Who'd dare turn their back on you!
Father said he'd never eaten such good food as during the war.
And not a single glimpse of the enemy.
Mark my words... any more of this kind of soup-
-and no one'll dare come within range.
One flea's worth...
...two fleas...
...three fleas, four and...
...five little fleas. - They want me to rub his back down.
Right.
Dear Lord, bless our meal. Amen.
lt is a great time we live in.
All is changing.
Soon Europe will no longer have borders.
No, Mr. Fagerdal.
My sister's visiting the Bylunds.
You and l, Maja, will have to manage on our own here.
Maja, you may prepare to rub my back down now.
Maja...
...your hands are as dainty as your mother's.
Maja...please...
My dear sweet Maja...
Maja, things are fine here, aren't they?
Please, sweet Maja...
No, Maja... Maja!
Maja! Maja, open...
You misunderstand me...
...Maja.
Open the door. Please, sweet Maja.
Open the door!
Maria... It was a pity about that misunderstanding.
No one can fail to understand that your brother is a true lecher.
What did you say, Maria!
l, too, had to deal with his improper advances.
l've never heard the likes of it.
My brother was Royal Theatre stage manager in Copenhagen...
Consider yourself lucky my husband has not ''heard the likes of it''.
Your brother is fortunate Sigge is not on leave.
- Had he known... - Yes, yes!
But everyone is fond of young Maja.
We'll find her a position at one of my lady acquaintances'.
Maja is due for a fair sum in wages from the gentlefolk here.
- That can be discussed. - l've certainly no time for that.
After months of war in Europe, there was a ''three-kings meeting'' in Malmö.
Excuse me!
The Nordic kings met for talks-
-on how to keep our nations out of the war.
Our land, our land, our fatherland
Words, sound in mighty chime!
No hills there are by heaven spanned
nor valleys wide nor sea-swept sand
more loved than in this Northern clime...
- ...upon our soil sublime. - Four cheers for the Kings!
- Hip, hip! - Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
Oh, glorious mountain-clad Iand of the north...
That's my picture?
Yes. They bought the photograph.
Here. It's not very much - a little extra before Christmas perhaps.
My picture - in the paper!
- Father! - Good afternoon, Father.
- Mother's picture's in the paper... - Is this the Larssons'?
Sigge... !
- What the hell are you up to? - Taking pictures.
Everyone wants a Christmas portrait.
Are you out of your mind?
- Eh? Get them out of here. - Sigge...
l've returned from risking my life...
Get the womenfolk out of here!
Right...
- Who's turn is it? - Hers.
Look at the camera.
Piff, paff...puff!
Maggie has left me.
- Again? - She's taken the children this time.
My old lady just carries on with that bloody camera.
Maria is a real gem.
A gem, eh?
She's hard...
...hard as rock.
Back to the Sahara.
Sarah?
The Sahara. The bloody desert, Englund!
Drought... The cold...
The nights...and the silence.
Just look at this...
They just smell of fish.
lt's there, despite all efforts...
lt smells good - smells of the sea.
And you wanted to be an explorer!
How's your confirmation coming along, Maja? Going well?
- Do you know the Commandments? - Every one of them, Father.
lncluding this one...
''Thou shalt not commit adultery.'' ''What is that?''
''We are to fear and love God''-
-''that we might lead a pure and chastened life, in word and deed''-
-''and that each of us might love and cherish his wedded spouse.''
l saw Maja and Gunnar kissing.
- What? - l saw Maja and Gunnar kissing.
You did, did you!
ls that true?
So Missy thinks she can be any old scoundrel's fiancée.
l see all. Understand?
lf you as much as kiss a lad, l can see it in your face.
Just watch your step!
Lovely children you've got, Maria.
Look at my Elsa. She's got nothing...
Don't say that, Anna.
What's to become of her?
She's incapable.
lf l'd known, l've had done what the Ahlström woman did.
What do you mean?
Jumped off the kitchen table...
...again and again until her wee baby dropped.
l'd like to take a picture of her.
May l?
Of Elsa...?
All right.
Yes, of course.
- How is he? - Much better now.
Maja, you'll have to see to Elon a while longer. l'm photographing Elsa.
Mother...Gunnar is already waiting.
Then he'll have to wait a little longer.
All you care about's your pictures...
...and that Pedersen man.
l'm sorry...
And Father just chases other women.
l can't think why you want a picture of me, Mr. Pedersen.
May l not call you Maria?
Why of course, Mr...
Ludwig Efraim...
- Sebastian. - Yes... Call me Sebastian.
ls Mrs. Pedersen interested in photography?
Maria, look at the camera.
Mrs. Pedersen...
She lives in Copenhagen these days...
...and is now Mrs. Listreus.
Please, look this way.
The war went on and on. All we had to eat was swedes...
boiled swedes, fried swedes, stewed swedes .
Yet we were by no means starving, as father now worked at the mill.
But we were hungry, all the time.
lt's not worth it, Sigge.
Englund!
Are you back?
So, no revolution in Eslöv either.
And Maggie?
They have such beautiful eyes.
- They're looking at me, Mother. - Maja, my sweet...
How about that, Englund? Pigeon in gravy...instead of swedes.
ln America they'd call these sparrows.
They don't eat anything smaller than turkeys there.
Are you going to America too, Grandma?
As soon as the war's over.
Aunt Tora is to send me a ticket. Then you'll be rid of me.
ls that a promise?
Englund, you should go to America.
There's something to suit everyone there.
- Good evening, Grandma. - Good evening to you, Sven.
A fine time to arrive...
...when your grandmama is visiting.
Sven's been in class.
The Reverend thinks l should study, says l have a head for it.
Do the right thing, work like everyone else!
Given the chance, you should give it a try.
Miss Öst has said l can study German with her.
l want to be a teacher.
The things we'd like to be! But money won't drop out of the sky.
Those bloody swedes!
Perhaps you'll be going to America by balloon.
father found it hard to forgive Englund for hanging himself...
Not because he'd had to pay for his funeral,
but because he'd lost his best friend.
Bloody Englund.
Bloody Kropotkin...
Sigge... Come and look at this.
lsn't that your old woman?
Yes, it is.
- Come back tomorrow. - Open the door. Open up!
- We're closed. - l'm aware of that.
- No! Excuse me, we're closed. - What's this?
- But who are you? - What are you up to with my Mrs.?
Been keeping her company? If l find out you...
l'm taking this. If l find out you have,
you'd bloody well better watch it.
You mark my words! Bloody photographer bastard!
Come on, Sigge.
Socks off.
- l'll get in the water... - Yes!
Now then, we'll get you all washed and clean...
What's this?
- Where did you get that? - l'm asking you...
What is this bloody garbage?
Don't just sit there on your bloody arse, lying to my face now.
Was that rabbit all you could find to cuckold me with?
You're hardly particular yourself.
Answer my question! And watch out!
That camera's going to go.
- You're not to touch it. - Oh, yes, l bloody am. Get it, now!
You're not taking that camera!
- l'm going to kill you. - Do it!
- Put an end to everything! - Behind my back!
Go on, do it!
Eh?
You and your floozies...
What a coward you are!
Right...
Bath time's over.
Farmer's lumbering logs in the forest Troll's in the woods - tra-la-la
Farmer heard him...
...la-la-la-la... Logs and lumber tra-la-la
The war just went on and on.
_nd there was yet another mouth to feed now: Erik's.
- Erik... - He's not eaten anything all day.
Father...
Erik's got polio.
l jumped off the table to get rid of the baby.
What on earth!
Sigge forced himself on me.
l didn't want to have that baby!
My Erik...
l tried to get rid of him.
lt's my fault he's fallen ill.
She just made that up.
She'll have gone to an abortionist.
lt's not your fault at all, Maria.
Good.
That's the way...
Well done, Erik.
After several months, Erik was at last home again from hospital.
Hallo, cat...
- There he is. - What's he doing?
- Playing. - Eh?
- He's playing away. - Why's he playing?
Mother...
He's so lovely.
Yes...
You are!
You're so lovely. And there's the cat, yes!
He's been waiting...
...waiting for you for so long. He's missed you, the cat has.
No!
Naughty!
l don't want it anymore.
lt's as if the pictures take over...
l forget l'm a mother.
- It turns me into another person. - Goodness me...
Let's have a cup of coffee. Come on.
What do you see as you look through the camera, Maria?
You see a world, there to be explored,
to preserve, to describe.
Those who've seen it...
They cannot merely close their eyes.
You can't turn back.
Well...perhaps you could take my picture instead.
What do you say?
Paris?
The catacombs?
l know!
Move!
What are you up to, bloody horse?!
Move!
Christ!
You bloody horse!
What the hell are you doing?! Are you out of your mind?
Let's see that leg. There, there...
Get a vet! Have it destroyed.
Sigge knows about horses.
- He knows about slaughtering? - If l did, you wouldn't be alive.
Leave, damn it, you dung heap!
A good thing he stumbled over while you were here.
Anyone else might have...
This'll have to do as a stable for the time being.
- He's a mischief-maker... - What's his name?
His name is...
Kropotkin.
Kro...
...potkin.
l was going to call him Englund,
but l'm not so sure it suits a horse.
- No... - Kropotkin will have to do.
Father, we're going to the cinema.
Can't you come?
- Can't Father come? - What horse is that?
We'd better hurry up.
And what's so bloody funny here then?
Eh?
ls it me you're laughing at?
Because l'm so bloody stupid -
working and wearing myself out
while you lot are all having fun.
ls that it? Eh?
The bad man looked just like you, Father.
And Uncle Piff Paff Puff was funny too, walking like Charlie Chaplin.
How in God's name can you...
...with my children...
How could you take my children?!
We just had a bit of fun.
l'm going to bloody well slit your throat, you damned...
l've had enough!
God knows l've tried. But now l've had enough!
Oh, yes...
My children!
Do it!
Do it, Sigge, but remember the children.
The police arrested Father.
This time, he was behind bars for much longer.
And a candle...
What are you doing?
We're wrapping up a parcel to give Father.
- He's better off than we are. - Oh, Mother...
Father is all alone.
Are you going to leave Father now, Mother?
Aren't you, Mother?
We have other things to consider.
ls it because Grandpa said that you were to stay
with Father until your dying day?
Grandpa has been dead ten years.
Why bother about that now?
We're managing.
Things are better now Father's not at home.
Sven can study. And l could do my German.
l'll hear no more of this now!
Maria Larsson.
- Good morning. - Maria Larsson?
Yes...
Well, l need money to pay the rent and buy food.
We're a large family and...
- How many children? - Seven.
My husband is unable to support the family...
Why can't your husband support the family?
He is...
Speak up, woman!
Beg pardon.
Ashamed?
Because of what your husband did?
Because l don't miss him.
This'll cure almost anything. Madeira.
No, no, no. l never touch spirits.
This isn't strong...
lt's aromas in a glass.
Countryside preserved...
...as in your pictures.
Maria...
Cheers!
Cheers, Sebastian.
Well, l've got something here.
Well!
Look, Leo.
We're beginning to resemble each other more and more.
Thank you.
- Right. - Maria, l'd...
l've something to say...
Getting to know you...
is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Well...standing there dreaming, Mrs. Larsson?
Good morning. Yes...
...the rent, of course.
Would you consider a postponement, Mr. Olsson?
l've a sewing order l'll soon be delivering. l'll do it as fast as l can.
l could take the horse.
That would cover the rent until your husband gets home.
- Thank you. Can l think it over? - By all means, Mrs. Larsson.
Good morning, Stina. Goodbye.
Kropotkin is Father's horse.
l know, but we've got the rent to pay and food to buy.
You're not suggesting we eat Kropotkin?
Mrs. Larsson, it struck me...
Would you consider taking photographs of my shop?
lf that proved successful, l could recommend my finer customers
to inquire of your services, Mrs. Larsson.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
What are you doing, Mother?
Packing your father's things.
Shall l help you, Mother?
No. l can manage.
So you came after all.
Look who's there!
- Watcher, you old bastard! - Hallo.
Anna!
Well, l'll be...
Kropotkin!
So you kept him after all.
Father!
Ville!
So...you use that bike, eh? It's mine!
Elon! Hallo!
Hallo, my old mate. You've grown, too.
Let's look at you. Shy of your dad?
Not? Do you love your dad?
Good lad.
Sleep well.
This... Perhaps you...
...you'd like to have my old enlarger.
Good afternoon.
l...tried to tell you last time.
l want to be closer to my daughter.
l'm to be a grandfather.
ln a few weeks... l'll be moving to Odense.
Here...
This camera would suit you well...
...a Contessa.
Take it. Use it.
- Miss Petrén is taking over the shop. - Yes. Haberdashery.
When are you leaving?
Any day now.
The removal people are here.
Just coming.
l'll send a porter with the enlarger.
After you.
DARKROOM
lt needs a bit doing to it, but we can soon move in.
l've borrowed enough to get us started.
What do you say?
''S. Larsson, haulier.''
S. LARSSON, HAULIER
Mo one could ima_ine father would ever start his own haulier's.
No one except Father, possibly.
_et he did.
And business was so _ood he could run all the members
to the annual temperance society outing.
Aunt Tora was over from America...
...with all her children.
We were doing well.
We chi1dren did not have to abandon all our dreams.
Sven was the first in the family to pass university entrance exams.
My little brother Erik never learned to walk without crutches.
But he could swim.
Sometimes he'd sit on the seabed.
''You think so well down there,'' he said.
''And you don't weigh anything.''
When Mother looked at her pictures she'd say:
''Just ima_ine it - we'll always be here.''
''These moments will be everlasting.''
Why Mother stayed with father l've always found a mystery.
Perhaps it was love.
Mother was not well.
She had a heart condition.
A while after the outing, she died.
Years later, l saw there was an undeveloped plate in the camera.
lt was the only picture Mother ever took of herself.