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Everlasting Moments

Play trailer Poster for Everlasting Moments 2009 2h 11m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 105 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In Sweden in the early 1900s, "Everlasting Moments" chronicles the life of Maria Lawson (Maria Heiskanen), an immigrant from Finland who uses a camera she wins in a lottery to document her life. Maria works with her camera to support her children while tolerating frequent abuse from Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt), her womanizing and alcoholic husband. Maria's daughter Maja, who vividly presents her mother's strength and dignity in the face of considerable hardship, narrates the film.
Everlasting Moments

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Elegant and intimate, Everlasting Moments moves at the deliberate and gentle pace of a classical European period drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/29/2018
One of those films in which nothing very much happens, but is full of character and incident all the same. It's a life - just a life - but Maria is so empathetic and portrayed with such love that we are as immersed in that life as she is. Go to Full Review
Philippa Hawker The Age (Australia) 08/11/2010
3/5
Feels a little repetitive and predictable in its depiction of the ordinary and the domestic. But there's something stubborn and gritty about Heiskanen's performance. Go to Full Review
Stephen Cole Globe and Mail 06/12/2009
3/4
What makes the photographer's story so compelling is that her life's work actually does come alive onscreen. Go to Full Review
Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper 01/27/2020
Where the film is most satisfying is in an artfulness that operates beyond words. Go to Full Review
Brandy McDonnell The Oklahoman 08/08/2018
3.5/4
Excellent performances, canny cinematography and Troell's steady direction make Everlasting Moments worth experiencing. Go to Full Review
Martha Polk MUBI 12/13/2017
Maria's interactions with film remind us of the most basic echelons of the filmic miracle-the miracles of reflection, projection, of light and seeing-and invite us into the excitement they hold. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Georgan G 10/01/2023 A delightful picture about class, social change, family, art & maybe love. The acting is terrific and this Swedish drama keeps you interested. Nothing bad to say about about it, at all. See more 07/14/2021 A sensitive, moving portrait of a hard life. Fittingly, and perhaps intentionally considering its subject, the tint and texture of this film evoke a kind of distant nostalgia and sadness that you only get when you look at old photographs See more 08/07/2018 A beautifully told story. Love, love, love! See more 06/23/2016 This is a movie rooted in excellent performances, subtle visual metaphors and a lovely soundtrack. So worth seeing for all of these reasons. It's also depressing as bleep, so be sure to be prepared to feel like crap after watching it, especially armed with the knowledge that it's based on a true story. See more 10/06/2015 This is one of the most beautiful Swedish movies I have ever seen like "Saraband". "Not every one could see and hear like few gifted people". This is the story of a lady who happened to discover her true passion and identity by accident which is photography. Photography lovers will cherish this movie. There are lot of other issues are going on this film like capitalism and socialism, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, illicit romance, prostitution..you name it. Don't miss it. See more 08/02/2015 Emotional, engaging drama. Set in Sweden in the early-1900s, the story of married couple, Maria (played by M0aria Heiskanen) and Sigfrid (played by Mikael Persbrandt), and their children. He is a drunk and abusive. She can definitely do a lot better, yet she sticks with him. Then she discovers photography... Interesting story, and often a harrowing ordeal. Quite frustrating at times, especially every time his darker and jealous side is revealed and she still stays with him. Does move slowly though, and the path it takes does seem a bit watered down. However, the final scenes are quite emotional, and do provide a fitting conclusion and a good point to the movie. See more Read all reviews
Everlasting Moments

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Movie Info

Synopsis In Sweden in the early 1900s, "Everlasting Moments" chronicles the life of Maria Lawson (Maria Heiskanen), an immigrant from Finland who uses a camera she wins in a lottery to document her life. Maria works with her camera to support her children while tolerating frequent abuse from Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt), her womanizing and alcoholic husband. Maria's daughter Maja, who vividly presents her mother's strength and dignity in the face of considerable hardship, narrates the film.
Director
Jan Troell
Producer
Tero Kaukomaa, Christer Nilson, Thomas Stenderup
Screenwriter
Niklas Rådström, Jan Troell, Agneta Ulfsäter-Troell
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Final Cut Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Finnish
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$606.1K
Runtime
2h 11m