Having only just finished watching this film, I can say that I consider it to be the most emotionally authentic story I have viewed in a very long time. This is a truly beautiful film, and I was not in any way distracted by having to follow the story by reading sub-titles. All actors are to be commended for their performances, but special mention must go to child actor Topi Majaniemi for an outstanding performance as Eero, the child who is sent by his Finnish mother to Sweden for the remainder of the war. He is in almost every scene - a big ask for a child - and he never ever wavers; I hope we see more of him in the future.As well as Majaniemi, special mention also must go to Maria Lundqvist, who played the child's troubled foster mother, and also Michael Nyqvist (who can do no wrong IMO) as the kindly, but often out-of-his-depth foster father, and the one to first befriend Eero in his foreign environment. All three actors give such realistic performances that I kept forgetting that I was watching a work of fiction, albeit based upon true stories. I felt that I was being allowed into this private world of these people trying to find their way through a situation none of them asked for, and so I had better be quiet and respectful.And this is beautiful to watch, set chiefly in coastal rural Sweden, complete with rolling green hills and white-washed buildings. Cinematography and Direction of this film as so flawless as to be invisible; the film just flows gently, but is never ever boring.Just one piece of advice........have some tissues handy, as it is an emotional journey, but without any of the emotional manipulation found in many English-speaking movies.I give it 12 stars!

Klaus Härö has done two films that I've seen, MOTHER OF MINE and ELINA, which are two of my all time favorite movies, and the only other director who has done that is Akira Kurosawa.Few directors are able to show us the unimaginable sense of loss children can sometimes feel the way Klaus Härö can, and do it in such a compelling, honest, and beautiful way.Utilizing great camera work, a stunningly talented group of actors, and a rock solid screenplay, he goes about painting a portrait so real it broke my heart.Almost anyone can put together a list of 'must see' movies, but, as far as I'm concerned, MOTHER OF MINE and ELINA should appear on a 'movies to see before you die' list. They are both THAT good.This is film-making at its finest!!!

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2006. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit organization that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."During World War II, the powerful Russians invaded small Finland. The Finns resisted mightily. But, many Finn parents were afraid for their children's safety and 70,000 were sent to Sweden for their own safety.Eero, a 9 year old Finn boy, was one of these children who was sent away to neutral Sweden after his father-soldier was killed in battle. His natural mother did this with much love and sorrow. Eero was her only child and the reason for her existence. Eero does not want to go, and he misses his father.When Eero arrives in Sweden, he is assigned to a foster home on a farm in a very remote region. The new foster-father is loving and nurturing, but the new foster-mother is cold and bitter because she recently lost her only child, a daughter, in an accident. But slowly Eero is accepted by the foster-mother too, and Eero feels loved and secure and happy, and actually stops missing his natural mother.Then, Eero's natural mother asks for his return.Eero, as an older man looks back at his childhood, sometimes tragic and sometimes wonderful, and tries to make sense of it.The viewer is struck by the great sacrifices the two mothers made for Eero. Mothers are vital to their children because they will always personally care for them. But in extreme circumstances, sometimes letting them go can be just as vital. But certainly it's much harder.This film has wonderful acting, directing and cinematography. The bleakness of the Swedish landscape and the simple, dignified lifestyle of the people are brilliantly displayed.FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Crystal Heart Award winners as well as other Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

I used to think that it's silly to cry over something like a movie and that it's only girls that do so - until now. I felt like being torn apart when realizing the pain Signe felt when she realized that there was nothing in the world she could do to keep Eero.It was beautiful to see the development of the bond between Signe and Eero, and it made the outcome so hard to bear. It was easy to understand how deep wounds were left in the souls of the Finnish children that were sent to "safety" in Sweden during WWII.This is a film everybody should see. It shows a depth I have NEVER seen on the movie screen.Thank you Klaus Haro!