Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Elina: As If I Wasn't There

Play trailer Elina: As If I Wasn't There Released Nov 17, 2002 1h 17m Kids & Family Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 0 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
During rough times in the hardscrabble countryside of northern Sweden, 9-year-old Elina (Natalie Minnevik) returns to school after a long illness. Elina's strict new teacher (Bibi Andersson) insists the defiant girl speak Swedish instead of the Finnish of her impoverished ethnic group. Elina finds refuge from the conflict by going out to the moors and communing with her dead father -- until the night the moors turn deadly and Elina must face her own demons.

Audience Reviews

View All (31) audience reviews
Audience Member Klaus Haro taitaa koskettavien kohtausten jalon taidon Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member It's a cute little story. Elina is a rebellious 10-year-old who defends her Finnish speaking friend. Of course the teacher doesn't like this. The story has its sentimental moments but all in all it doesn't really convince me. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member A film I wish had been around when I was a child. Containing both historical and political intrique "Elina - Som om jag inte fanns" is a smart drama about a child belonging to a minority facing the adult world. It turns out that this world has nothing to do with equality and with what's fair. It also depicts a childs struggle to let go of a dead parent in an honest, unsentimental but touching way. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Partly a children's movie, but enjoyable to adults too. Probably partially due to the time setting, which I found cutely nostalgic (the children's clothes for example! I feel an urge to start knitting grey sweaters and sewing skirts and scarves for my niece). Hmm... nothing irritated me too much about this film, and it avoids the stereotypic flaws of most Finnish films. Simple, but nice. Bleak but beautiful sceneries. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Beautiful story and very skillfull acting in breathtaking sceneries. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I haven't seen a bad Klaus Haro movie yet and this one dosen't dissapoint eather. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Elina: As If I Wasn't There

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew
View All Elina: As If I Wasn't There photos

Elina: As If I Wasn't There

Elina: As If I Wasn't There (2002) Elina: As If I Wasn't There (2002) Elina: As If I Wasn't There (2002) Elina: As If I Wasn't There (2002) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During rough times in the hardscrabble countryside of northern Sweden, 9-year-old Elina (Natalie Minnevik) returns to school after a long illness. Elina's strict new teacher (Bibi Andersson) insists the defiant girl speak Swedish instead of the Finnish of her impoverished ethnic group. Elina finds refuge from the conflict by going out to the moors and communing with her dead father -- until the night the moors turn deadly and Elina must face her own demons.
Director
Klaus Härö
Producer
Charlotta Denward, Anders Landström
Screenwriter
Kjell Sundstedt
Distributor
Finnkino Oy
Production Co
Filmlance International AB
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language
Swedish
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 17, 2002, Wide
Runtime
1h 17m
Sound Mix
Stereo