The Swedish film Under solen was shown in the U.S. with the title Under the Sun (1998). It was directed by Colin Nutley. The film is set in rural Sweden in 1956.Rolf Lassgård plays Olof, a gentle 40-year-old farmer who has lived alone since his mother's death. The only way he can think of to meet a woman is to put an ad for a housekeeper in a newspaper. A woman answers the ad, and eventually comes to the farm. Helena Bergström plays the beautiful Ellen Lind, who has never been on a farm, and would seem to be an unlikely candidate for the job. However, for her own reasons, she takes the position and appears to do it well. Certain important facts become clear early in the movie. Olof isn't stupid, but he can't read. That's never explained. Were there truly people in rural Sweden at the time who hadn't been taught to read? Possibly Olof had gone to school, but was dyslexic.Olof's inability to read is a key plot element, because this disability allows his friend Erik to take advantage of Olof's trusting nature. Erik--played by Johan Widerberg--has worked on a cruise ship and is far more worldly than Olof. I didn't think Widerberg carried off the tricky job of being Olof's trusted friend. He portrayed Erik as obviously devious and scheming, and, in reality, I think Olof would have seen through this supposed friendship. Naturally, the plot produces an inevitable triangle, although not in the obvious way one would expect. That's what makes the movie interesting.Some points worth noting: Gunilla Röör plays the newspaper receptionist who helps Olof with the ad. She's an interesting actor, and I wish she had been given more than just this cameo role at the beginning of the film."Under the sun" sounds like a French or Italian movie--there's not that much sunshine in Sweden. However, the title refers to the Biblical quotation, "There is nothing new under the sun."Every so often, director Nutley cuts away to a fighter jet performing maneuvers in the sky above the farm. We would expect a bird, not a fighter jet. (Once, it is a bird, but only once.) There's an interesting thread on IMDb about the symbolism of the fighter jet.The musical score is beautiful, but the music is Celtic, not Swedish. There are some similarities between Celtic and Swedish music, but why not use Swedish music?We saw this film on VHS (believe it or not), although I think it's available on DVD. It would work somewhat better on a large screen, because of the beauty of the sky and the countryside. It's an unusual movie, and possibly not for everyone, but I enjoyed it and recommend it.

"There's nothing new Under the Sun (Under solen)" is the titular closing line for this lovely Swedish farm romance.And yeah it does draw on familiar territory -- the mail-order bride type Westerns like "Rachel and the Stranger," the woman with a secret who appears in beautiful rural scenery in "Days of Heaven," combined with the threatening, non-stop talking intruder as in "Smooth Talk" (who the entire audience would have gladly murdered as we laughed uproariously when his ironic fate was sealed).Set in 1955 with some more sexual frankness than those after all non-Swedish earlier movies, "Under the Sun" is grounded in the realism of the lead characters, as a man and woman in their '30's who understand life, people and most of all themselves. But my friend and I found we kept thinking the exact same things: why the heck did those horses need to be taken all the way to that scenic water hole all day? Couldn't they just drink water from a trough? And is it really summer in Sweden all the time?(originally written 8/25/2001)

I was lucky enough to have seen this film only a month or two ago on TV, and I loved it. Rolf Lassgård is excellent and makes you feel compassion for Olof and his situation. Erik is somewhat likeable and dislikable at the same time, and Ellen is perfect, making an attractive and layered character. This is a sweet movie, with a little uncertainty to keep you interested and hopeful. A simple story about life and love, that you'll be glad you watched.

One of the best movies I have seen for a long time. The warm humor, makes you feel good. Both Helena and Rolf are charming, and you believe they are Olof and Ellen. A movie I would like to see many times.SEE IT.