EVERLASTING MOMENTS (2008)
A week after Mother met Father, she won a camera in a lottery.
Father thought the camera should be his, as he'd bought the ticket.
Mother said if he wanted to share it, he'd have to marry her.
So they got married.
MARIA LARSSON'S EVERLASTING MOMENTS
My mother's name was Maria.
My father's name was Sigfrid, but he was always known as Sigge.
And I was christened Maja.
- Shall we go playing, Maja? - I can't, Ingeborg. Miss Ost is coming.
- Here? - To our place.
Miss Ost was my schoolteacher.
That she would ever come to our home was beyond my wildest dreams.
What splendid craftsmanship.
- Father did it. - What a talented father, Maja.
My husband used to be at sea.
Thank you so much.
I brought a book to lend you, Maja. - Thank you, Miss Ost.
Maja has told me you enjoy reading together.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Please excuse me.
He comes The same man 'tis today
For our redemption we should pray
He comes the same man 'tis today
Stina, come over here...to Dad.
Come to Dad.
Come on.
No. Leave her be!
No!
Let go! Let go!
With mercy's light we may repent
The sun, ne'er hidden, to us sent
Right.
Now you've each got a picture of our old king, to remember him by.
This is our old King Oscar...
I enjoyed school more than anything.
Miss Ost was kind and wise and strict within reason.
I dreamed of becoming a teacher myself.
Does anyone have any questions?
Maja?
Did King Oscar hit his princes and princesses?
King Oscar only had princes, Maja.
But, if he had had small princesses
who had done something they deserved punishing for
then I think they would have been spanked a little by the king.
You could never be sure there'd be work in the docks.
But Father was so strong. If there was work, he'd usually get it.
Bloody bastards! Think you can treat us any old how!
Eh? You swine!
Not a drop.
The courtyards were full of young, the buildings run-down, cramped.
Going to the privy, we'd stamp our feet to frighten the rats off.
But Mother always kept our flat clean and tidy.
She'd say: "You see what you want to see."
Mother's pride was her sewing machine.
Second-hand, bought in installments.
She could make anything people ordered.
She charged 50 cents for a pair of trousers.
Would you like me to make you a fine coat, Miss Fagerdal?
No. I think not.
The place is never as neat
as when you cleaned here, Maria.
Do you not wish to start cleaning here again?
I have my children to look after.
Really? lsn't your daughter old enough to go into service now?
Maja...
Maja goes to school now.
Let me know when the girl is old enough. She shouldn't wait.
And Sigfrid Larsson.
He has been seen yet again intoxicated in public.
Almost everyone we knew was in the Spring Flower Temperance Society.
Each time Father broke his vow, we were barred.
Then we were allowed back until the next barring.
Are you parting the hair right?
Does it look nice?
Sig...
- Signe. - Why does it say "Signe"?
Well...
they couldn't spell "Maria".
They got it a little wrong.
Right. Accordion, please, Ville.
Here, Father.
The Hulda he must join So to the port apace
the hearty seaman hurries and leaves his love's embrace
With tears upon his cheeks...
The Temperance Hall's two passwords were "Freedom" and "Reconciliation".
Reconciliation.
If you didn't know which to use you weren't allowed in.
Reconciliation.
The password's meant to be kept secret.
Reconciliation.
Hello, Mother.
Sigge.
Grandma loved Father...
but we didn't love Grandma.
- Good evening, Maria. - Good evening, Mother-in-Law.
Say hello to Grandma.
'Twas on the moors a little house a home of need no less
The husband was a drinking spouse The rest you'll surely guess
A night of bleak and chilling air Her spouse was not about
And in their home no food was there The fire had long been out
Oh tell me friend when this you hear would you embrace that thief:
the drink that robs a man of health and casts a home in grief?
See the web of Satan banned That dreadful vice abhor
lgnore the flask, take Jesus' hand Let goodness reign once more
No one could dance like Father.
Mother said that he could have won any heart he wanted,
yet he'd chosen hers.
I was so proud of you tonight, Sigge.
Promise me now...
never again.
Never to touch a drop again. - Of course not, for Christ's sake.
I promise.
Stockholmer there, you deserve a right good swig.
No thanks.
"When l'd left the hills after a week with the watchmakers
my socialist opinions had taken root within me; I was an anarchist."
"Anarchist"?
Here, Sigge, read that.
Yes?
"Socialist..."
- Going out just as I get home? - Where else would we get money?
I don't want you cleaning for capitalist swine, do you hear?
Where have you learned words like that?
"Words like that"? It's what I mean.
- Where's that Ville? - What is it?
Kalle got home, punched bloody.
His trousers were full of piss. - Kalle started it.
Your boy needs a spanking, Mr. Larsson.
It's me who brings up my young'ns. I'll have no gossips interfering.
Did you do that? - Kalle started it.
I said: "Did you do that?"
Kalle was saying bad things about you, Father.
Kalle said you were a drunkard, Father.
Ville was only trying to defend you, Father.
Sigge. Maja's done nothing wrong! Stop that!
No one ever died of a bit of the belt.
Hey...
want a swig?
- Mother. - Hello.
Shut your mouth, you damn Finn. Let my nippers sing.
No. That's quite enough.
For Christ's sake, can't a man have a bit of fun.
- The children have a Karelian angel. - Let them sing for the Captain.
I'll be no angel if you don't watch it.
- I've heard it before. - What's that?
- You don't always get the meaning. - What? What's he saying?
- Have a swig. - What's he babbling?
- The meaning of the words... - What's he saying?
- You lecher! - "My sweet Iass is fairest of all"
Listen, you filthy Finnish bastard! Stop your damned -
Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it!
Here take a sweet, each of you
and go and look at the birds.
A canary.
Men are dreadful, whatever they do.
But you can't move in here with all your kids
just because I'm saddled with your father.
Father.
It's Sigge.
I can't stay with him any longer.
He promises again and again to stop drinking, but always breaks the vow.
Could you help me financially?
Remember, Maria...
whom God has joined together...
no one may put asunder.
He hits me and the children.
You are to stay with Sigfrid.
Until death do you part.
Let no one put asunder
what God has joined together.
You must leave.
I am going home now.
Home?
To Kristina.
Mother is dead, Father.
Precisely.
Lower it, for God's sake!
We're on strike, for Christ's sake.
Here you are.
Well, Maria, your old man's going to be at home all day now.
We're on strike.
We're going to show those bosses what we're worth.
- What we're worth? - Quite right.
What are we worth with no money?
I can't scrub for any more people and I sew every night.
We're done scrubbing for others.
Soon we'll have it made.
Here's someone who's quick as lightning and more than eager.
Not now, Sigge.
Am I to be kept in the doghouse all year? Come on.
No. Leave me be.
Stop it!
STUDlO
No, Leo.
Leo, here.
Out.
I'm sorry, he's just a puppy.
Well, this camera...
Can anything be done with it?
- Be done? - l've had it a while. ls it all right?
Well, let me have a look.
Well...
It's a good camera. A Contessa.
ls there a plate in the holder? - A plate?
- There is. - Might it be worth something?
- Were you thinking of selling it? - Yes.
How much is it worth?
I'm not really sure.
It's a good camera, but...
Leave it with me for a couple of days and I'll give you a price.
All right.
Aren't you going to leave a name?
- A name? - So I'll know whose camera it is.
It's Larsson.
Mrs. Larsson. You don't sound as though you're from Sweden.
No. I was born in Finland, in Raivola.
Well... Pedersen's the name.
I'm from Denmark - Odense.
No, that's for you to keep.
- I see. - Oh, yes.
- Thank you. - Look forward to seeing you.
Mrs. Larsson.
Piff, paff, puff!
Come back tomorrow and I'll give you a price.
And we can see if the plate has registered your picture.
- Go home to England, blacklegs! - Go home!
- Go home to England! - Damn idiots!
Go home!
Father wasn't one for politics.
But bringing a shipload of British strikebreakers to do his work
was more than he could take.
Don't take our bread!
Damn blacklegs, go home to England!
Have a look at this, Mrs. Larsson.
Just look at me.
The picture has been affected a bit as the plate was so old.
I just don't see how a picture comes to be.
May I ask for your hand, Mrs. Larsson?
Look.
There.
It's a miracle.
Hold tight.
I don't think you should sell this camera without even having tried it.
If you have five minutes I'll show you how to use it.
- Best of luck. - Thank you.
Now, keep absolutely still.
Remember, not a word about this to a living soul.
This is our secret. - What about Father?
No, not to Father either.
It's a miracle.
Three loaded holders...
the red lamp.
Oh, Mr. Grevelius, this is Mrs. Larsson.
- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.
And developer and fixer.
But I cannot accept all these things. I have no money.
But you have the camera I am to purchase.
I'll take the camera as a deposit, but you are to look after it.
- Look after it? - You can use it.
We can deduct the plates and chemicals when I buy it.
I see.
Well...
They say things will explode if we don't accept present wages.
- Kropotkin... you don't know of him? - No.
The anarchist, Prince Kropotkin who wrote this book.
No.
There.
There you are.
Those damn black-cunts are snoozing onboard over there.
We ought to ram a stick of dynamite up their backsides.
I'm glad some parts of you are not on strike.
You're a live one. Jump up there.
It's been a while since you had the chance, huh?
What the hell!
- What was that? - God knows.
What have they done?
- l've no idea. - They're out of their minds.
Christ, it's him.
Where have you been?
At the strike.
All night?
Tonight...
big things happened.
Rest assured... Big things.
Really.
You smell of perfume.
Perfume? Oh, no. It's dynamite.
I smell of dynamite.
Perfume.
A worker doesn't snitch and that's that.
For a thousand kronor somebody will.
What would you do it for? Ten thousand?
A thousand kronor.
What couldn't you do with that money.
You...
and me and Sigge junior.
No. Pull yourself together.
Enough of that. - But what if?
If you weren't so damn stupid you'd remember his name.
Then there'd be some point to your "what if".
Anton.
Anton Nilsson.
- Anton Nilsson? - Yes.
A thousand. There's always someone who can't keep their trap shut.
They've caught the murderer.
What damn murderer?
The S.S. Amalthea man.
He's not a murderer.
One dead, seven injured.
Strikebreakers.
They're human beings, too.
"For carrying out the attack on the personnel-carrier vessel Amalthea
a suspect has been arrested.
The circumstantial evidence is considerable.
The detained man, Anton Nilsson,
is a Young Socialist Party member
seen as one of the most fanatical.
Others are suspected of having been behind him.
An investigation is in progress."
Where are you off to?
- Where is it? - Where's what?
- The money? - What money?
The thousand kronor. You squealed.
No. I didn't.
- Where is the money? - I haven't done anything!
Sigge, I don't have any money.
- Sigfrid Larsson? - Yes.
- Come with me, please. - What's this about?
I think you know.
ls it really worth making a fuss about? A little slap?
One dead, several injured. You call that a "little slap"?
You think I was in on the blast?
I'm innocent.
- A constable saw you. - Sigge, what have you done?
Well, well.
Dalman is going to have to deal with the vermin here again.
It's been a while.
- Dalman? - Yes.
He'd better start sharpening his blade.
Does the name Tektor mean anything to you?
He had to take three swipes to get his head off.
Ouch, ouch, ouch.
But don't you worry. lt wasn't Dalman on the job that time.
That's life.
A lot of singers we've got here.
Your accomplice opposite us is singing his swan song, too.
But you're quiet.
Mrs. Larsson?
Yes? What's it concerning?
Just to say that you need not be frightened.
I don't understand.
No need to worry, Mrs. Larsson.
Your husband didn't blow anyone up.
Not the other night, at any rate.
I can vouch for that.
Sigge, your husband, he walked me home.
There were Englishmen everywhere. lt was dangerous.
One thing led to another.
But I'm sure you know, Maria -
Mrs. Larsson, that he's more than eager.
Perhaps I should go to the police and talk to them.
What do you think, Mrs. Larsson?
Eat up your food now, Sigge my boy.
You need your strength.
What for?
I'll not be given work just because the strike's over.
It's a good thing you know that Matilda.
Damn kids.
You can't behave like that in America. The police will fetch you.
Aunt Tora's husband must have struck lucky in America.
He had sent tickets to her and all her children
so they could join him there.
- What's that? - A camera.
Form a group.
Look at the camera. - Am I all right here, Maria?
- One, two, three. - Hurry up.
We've got to go onboard. Come along.
- Good-bye. - Bon voyage.
Wait. I'll have that, to help pay off our debt.
No. You're not to take it.
- It's already been pawned. - Pawned?
- At Pedersen the photographer's. - Behind my back?
Who's been going behind whose back.
You're bringing that up?
Here.
lt was to be a Christmas surprise, but it doesn't matter now.
Well I'll be...
I took it.
You took it?
After the strike, Father was not given work at the docks again
but he was seldom out of work.
Whoa there.
You handle both man and beast well, Larsson.
Thank you.
Alund will be leaving us soon.
He's caught a bout of socialism.
But you don't suffer from that affliction.
No. Not me.
Thank you.
"Our Lord created the Smalander and made him witty, contented,
diligent and clever, to achieve what he needed in his meager land."
Good, Maja.
You go on, Ingeborg.
- Me, Miss? - Yes, Ingeborg. Stand up, please.
l... know...
Louder, Ingeborg.
a country...
on earth...
No!
Now then, children.
A good try, Ingeborg.
Please sit down again.
Ingeborg. Ingeborg.
Ingeborg.
God who loves us one and all Care for me who am so small
Where e'er I wander far and wide God be always by my side
Come joy, come not; yet from above God grants happiness in love.
Time to go to sleep. Good night.
There.
Dear God, bring Ingeborg back to life. Forgive me. Let her live again.
- Good evening. - Come in.
I was wondering, if you, Maria,
might be able to photograph Ingeborg tomorrow.
To remember her by. I shall pay you for it, Maria.
Here you are.
l've never seen her so beautiful.
How much does it cost?
Nothing at all.
It's in memory of Ingeborg.
May I keep this picture?
It's just something I took first, before I took the picture.
Not everyone is endowed with the gift of seeing.
Mrs. Larsson...
if I get to keep this picture
you'll have paid for your plates and printing paper and cleared your debt.
Piff, paff, puff. That's settled.
We have so many clients these days, and now that my assistant's leaving
I was wondering perhaps...
Mrs. Larsson, if you might like to start working here?
- Me? - Yes.
But I cannot.
My children, and...
Ah, Larsson... and your wife.
You're expecting, I see. - Yes, Sir. Number five it'll be.
You can never have too many children as fine as these.
Borrow a wagon tomorrow and take the family for an outing.
Thank you kindly, Sir.
Mrs. Larsson, you can be proud of your husband.
Hope he handles his wife as well as he handles horses.
Good day. Thank you.
You appear to handle capitalism well, I see.
This is Maggie, bookshop assistant. - How do you do?
I'm Sigfrid Larsson, former dock's rogue.
I'm Maria Larsson. How do you do?
Don't give her that look, Sigge. Maggie is mine.
Well then, who do we have here?
Good day.
- Ville! - Come on! Come on!
- Ville! - Come on, Ville!
What did I say? I knew it.
Leo. Heel.
Heel, boy.
Leo. Come on, boy.
lsn't Father coming home, too?
What are you standing there staring at? Go to bed.
Here comes your own flower merchant
with a splendid array all for his own sweet golden rose
Here you are. All picked in meadows.
- And where have you been? - Up you get. Now for some fun.
Up you get.
Bottoms up and down the hatch we go
- Mother, can't we ride, too? - No.
- And bring the camera. - We're off for a ride.
Let me go! Let go!
- Stop. Stop. - Don't drink, Father.
- Stop! - Stop!
There. There.
FlVE YEARS LATER 1 91 4
Good morning.
We moved from Malmo to Limhamn.
lt was moldy and all. But there was something we'd never had before.
Anna, can you go over to the wall there...
and press -
There. Let there be light.
Accordion.
Father said, "From now on, everything's going to get better."
We had got two new siblings: Anna and Elon.
And now Ville had become the family musician.
Both Father and Ville had found work at the limestone quarry.
lt was permanent employment.
Maja. ln you all come.
Don't touch that.
Father was pleased to be called up.
A worId war couldn't be worse than the limestone quarry.
Maria, can't you fetch the camera and take a picture, to remember us by?
I'm not sure where it is.
Englund, we're going to take a picture. Get the camera.
- Not in a capitalist uniform. - Hold the Mauser.
- Maggie would like a picture. - I doubt it.
STUDlO
Can I help you?
Mr. Pedersen is not here?
The photographer is busy in the studio.
Could I assist you perhaps?
Well, l'd very much like to speak to Mr. Pedersen.
I see.
There's someone out here looking for you, Mr. Pedersen.
Just a moment and I'll be there.
Mrs. Larsson.
It's been quite some time.
My husband wants a photograph of himself in uniform.
Uniforms are the rage this year.
Mr. Pedersen.
Just a moment please, Captain.
I need printing paper, chemicals...
Right.
Miss Petren...
would you pull out the Brandenburg Gate, behind the captain?
By all means. Please excuse me.
So you still take pictures?
I haven't had the camera out since long before we moved.
You've moved?
To Limhamn.
There's the tram.
The number four.
Forgive me, but the captain can't wait any longer.
- It's almost five. l've got to go. - One moment, Captain.
Mrs. Larsson is one of our most esteemed clients, Miss Petren.
Come back soon.
Well then.
- Thank you. - Don't mention it.
There.
- Maja, Miss Fagerdal has a brother. - Yes?
Sometimes he can be...
No. lt was nothing.
- Good-bye, Mother. - Good-bye.
ERNESTINE FAGERDAL WIGMAKER
This is my brother Algot's watch. He collects watches.
Be careful now.
Yes, Miss Fagerdal.
If Maja is 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. Unbutton me.
I'll pay you one cent per flea.
But you must help me with my liniment.
Just think how I'm made to suffer through the uncleanliness of others.
Algot, did you remember the liniment?
- Yes. - Should Maja put it on your back too?
Not this evening.
Close the flap for Christ's sake.
- l've got a bad cold. - That's your third helping, Sigge.
Right you are. Tasty.
- We don't even get live ammunition. - I should hope not.
Who'd dare turn their back on you?
Father said he'd never eaten as good as during the war.
And not a single glimpse of the enemy.
I'll tell you this, any more of this soup
and no one will dare come within range.
One flea's worth.
Two fleas.
Three fleas, four and...
five little fleas.
They want me to rub down his back.
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 down my back 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 Malmo.
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 land 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 is in the paper. - ls this the Larssons'?
Sigge.
- What the hell are you up to? - Taking pictures.
Everyone wants a Christmas portrait.
Are you out of your mind?
- Huh? 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 damn camera.
Maria is a real gem.
A gem?
She's hard.
Hard as rock.
Back to the Sahara.
Sarah?
The Sahara. The damn desert, Englund.
The drought, the cold...
the nights and the silence.
Just look at this.
They just smell of fish.
It'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."
I saw Maja and Gunnar kissing.
- What? - I saw Maja and Gunnar kissing.
You did, did you?
ls that true?
So the little lady thinks she can be any old scoundrel's fiancee.
I see all. Understand?
If you as much as kiss a lad, I 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.
If l'd known, I would have done what the Ahlstrom woman did.
What do you mean?
She jumped off the kitchen table
again and again until her baby dropped.
l'd like to take a picture of her.
May l?
Elsa?
All right.
Yes, of course.
- How is he? - Much better now.
Maja, you'll have to see to Elon a while longer.
I'm photographing Elsa.
Mother, Gunnar is already waiting.
Then he'll have to wait a little longer.
All you care about is your pictures...
and that Pedersen man.
I'm sorry.
And Father just chases other women.
I can't think why you want a picture of me, Mr. Pedersen.
May I 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,
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 turnips.
Boiled turnips, fried turnips, stewed turnips.
Yet we were by no means starving, as Father now worked at the mill.
But we were hungry all the time.
It's not worth it, Sigge.
Englund.
Are you back?
So, no revolution in Eslov either.
And Maggie?
They have such beautiful eyes.
They're looking at me, Mother.
Maja, my sweet.
How about that, Englund? Pigeon in gravy.
Better than turnips.
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 grandma is visiting.
Sven's been in class.
The Reverend thinks I should study, says I have a head for it.
Do the right thing, work like everyone else.
Given the chance, you should give it a try.
Miss Ost has said I can study German with her.
I want to be a teacher.
The things we'd like to be. But money won't drop out of the sky.
Those damn turnips.
Perhaps you'll be going to America by balloon.
Father found it hard to forgive Englund for hanging himself...
not because he had to pay for his funeral,
but because he'd lost his best friend.
Damn Englund.
Damn 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. - I'm aware of that.
- No. Excuse me, we're closed. - What's this?
- Who are you? - What are you up to with my old lady?
Been keeping her company? If I find out you -
I'm taking this.
If I find out you're involved with her you damn well better watch it.
You mark my words. Damn photographer bastard.
Come on, Sigge.
Socks off.
- I'll get in the water. - Yes.
Now then, we'll get you all washed and clean.
What's this?
Where did you get that?
I'm asking you. What is this damn garbage?
Don't just sit there on your damn ass, lying straight to my face.
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 going to touch it. - Oh yes, I am. Get it, now.
You're not taking that camera!
- I'm going to kill you. - Do it.
Put an end to everything. - Behind my back!
Go on, do it.
Huh?
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.
And there was yet another mouth to feed now: Erik's.
- Erik. - He's not eaten anything all day.
Father.
Erik's got polio.
I jumped off the table to get rid of the baby.
Why on earth...
Sigge forced himself on me.
I didn't want to have that baby.
My Erik.
I tried to get rid of him.
It's my fault he's fallen ill.
She just made that up.
She must have gone to an abortionist.
It's not your fault at all, Maria.
Good.
That's the way.
Well done, Erik. Good.
After several months, Erik was at last home again from hospital.
Hello, cat.
- There he is. - What's he doing?
- Playing. - What?
- He's playing. - 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 for you.
He's waited for so long. The cat's missed you.
No.
Naughty!
I don't want it anymore.
It's as if the pictures take over...
I forget I'm a mother.
lt 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 to be explored,
to preserve, to describe.
Those who've seen it
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?
I know.
Move!
What are you up to, damn horse!
Move!
Christ!
You damn 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 I did, you wouldn't be alive.
Leave, damn it, you dung heap!
A good thing he stumbled over while you were here.
lt could have been somebody else.
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.
I was going to call him Englund,
but I'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 damn funny here?
Huh?
ls it me you're laughing at?
Because I'm so bloody stupid,
working and wearing myself out while you lot are all having fun.
ls that it? Huh?
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.
I'm going to slit your throat, you damned -
That's 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.
Get the 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, 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 I could do my German.
I'll hear no more of this now.
Maria Larsson.
- Good morning. - Maria Larsson?
Yes.
Well, I 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.
I'm sorry.
Ashamed?
Because of what your husband did?
Because I don't miss him.
This'll cure almost anything. Madeira.
No, no, no. I never touch spirits.
This isn't strong.
It's aromas in a glass.
A preserved countryside...
as in your pictures.
Maria.
Cheers.
Cheers, Sebastian.
Well, l've got something here.
Well, I -
Look, Leo. We're beginning to resemble each other more and more.
Thank you.
- Right. - Maria, l'd...
I have something to say.
Getting to know you
is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Daydreaming, Mrs. Larsson?
Good morning. Yes.
The rent, of course.
Would you consider a postponement, Mr. Olsson?
l've a sewing order I'll soon be delivering. I'll do it as fast as I can.
I could take the horse.
That would cover the rent until your husband gets home.
- Thank you. Can I think it over? - By all means, Mrs. Larsson.
- Good morning, Stina. - Good-bye.
Kropotkin is Father's horse.
I know, but we've got the rent to pay and food to buy.
You're not suggesting we eat Kropotkin?
Mrs. Larsson, I thought of something...
would you consider taking photographs of my shop?
If that proved successful, I 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 I help you, Mother?
No. I can manage.
So you came after all.
Look who's there.
- Hi there, you old bastard. - Hello.
Anna.
Well, I'll be...
Kropotkin.
So you kept him after all.
Father.
Ville.
So you're using the bike, huh? It's mine.
Elon. Hello.
Hello, little fellow. You've grown, too.
Let's look at you. Shy of your dad?
Not? Do you love your dad?
Good boy.
Sleep well.
This -
Perhaps you'd like to have my old enlarger.
Good afternoon.
I tried to tell you last time.
I want to be closer to my daughter.
I'm to be a grandfather.
ln a few weeks, I'll be moving to Odense.
Here.
This would suit you well.
It's a Contessa.
Take it. Use it.
Miss Petren is taking over the shop. - Yes. Haberdashery.
When are you leaving?
Any day now.
The movers are here.
I'm coming.
I'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, Hauling."
S. LARSSON, HAULING
Good day.
No one imagined Father would ever start his own hauling company.
No one except Father, possibly.
Yet he did.
And business was so good 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 children 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:
"Imagine, we'll always be here.
These moments will be everlasting."
Why Mother stayed with Father I'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, I discovered an undeveloped plate in her camera.
It was the only picture Mother ever took of herself.