User Reviews

Children's movies quite often tell stories considering important moral issues. They often have purposes others than to entertain, and therefore have to find the way to get the child audience interested by other means than mindless action. That kind of films should have all the qualities needed to offer something for the adults also.

"Elina -Som jag inte fanns" has a message working on two levels. It is about basic civil rights. On general level, it remind us on how important it is for people to be allowed and able to use their own language. On personal level, it is about our right of seeing the world as we wish. In this case, the perspective is the one of a Finnish-speaking child in Sweden.

In Scandinavia people are, in general, fairly free to believe in gods, spirits, aliens, even gnomes and elves if they wish. (At least when they keep it to themselves.) These rights are so important that it is always worth the money and effort to tell a story about them. However, that is what this movie lacks. A good story. Of course I'm happy to see a children's movie with no unnecessary action and violence, but the lack of a plot makes me wonder if this is actually more suitable for adults. The film fortunately has some humorous scenes, with good taste also, but that does not really cover up for the lack of a story. However good the atmosphere and the message, face the fact: Children deserve a little bit more adventurous movies than this.

Basically, this is a movie about the little people's rights. The message pretty much reflects the attitudes in today's Scandinavia. We encourage our children to grow up to be independent and aware of their rights. But looking at the youth of today, maybe it would be time to make a movie of the importance of the safety provided by the limits and even discipline?

The northern nature is both beautiful and described in a realistic way. The movie also has some historical value, as it shows us the reality of cultural discrimination from the children's point of view, so often forgotten. It combines a little bit of fantasy with the harsh reality. Therefore it is good for the adults and even better for the children, if you manage to get them to watch something as serious as this. 7/10

I watched this movie at the Berlin film festival 2003 where it was awarded the Glass Bear (The prize of the children's jury). It is a well-told story about the problems experienced by a minority group in the society. In this case the finnish-speaking minority in Sweden in the beginning of the 1950's. The film makes it easy to understand the problems that can occur for such a minority group in an intolerant society. I believe this may be applicable for minority groups in many places of the world and thus it is possible for people around the world to recognize the situation. This is the debut for the director Klaus Härö in a full-length movie and I think he has succeeded well.

I saw this at the Newport Film Festival in 2003 and am bewildered and dismayed that it is not (yet?) out in DVD. First of all, viewers unfamiliar with this geographical area will be introduced, through stunning cinematography, to the magical landscape of this part of northern Sweden. If you thought you could not love a bog, you will start searching, like me, for a coffee table book on "Bogs, Fens, and Marshes," (I made that up -someone publish this book, please!) The story is compelling, thoughtfully and superbly rendered by cast, writer, director, and all involved. A little girl struggles with grief over the loss of her father, "talking" to him in the bogs she is forbidden to visit (they are very dangerous if you don't know how to navigate them), but knows he loved. Life is made especially hard for her in school by a female teacher totally lacking in compassion and understanding of the loss she is dealing with, and who seems fixated on her students speaking Swedish ONLY, rather than Finnish, which many of them speak as their native language. The relationship between the little girl and her teacher comes to an extremely gripping, moving, touching climax which will undoubtedly surprise the audience. Humanity pours out of this film, especially this "stand-off" between teacher and pupil which washes the audience in awe of what film can do. I did not even realize this film was for children. I am 42, a movie connoisseur, especially foreign films, and this is on my top ten list. It is a gem, and why it has not come out on DVD is a total mystery to me. If anyone knows how to obtain a copy of this film, please post this information! A movie of similar caliber that I would suggest is "The Color of Milk," (Norway/Sweden) (2002).

I saw this film at the Scandinavia House in New York City, liked it, and I thought I should counter the silly comment I noticed by haunt3d. The first thing to remember is that this film is meant for children primarily, so the story has to be reasonably simple and linear. Otherwise they either do not get the message or get disinterested. What is actually remarkable about "Elina", though, is that it also seems to appeal to (at least some) adults. The New Yorkers that attended the screening on that cold night --- hardly any kids --- were quite taken by it.

ELINA - AS IF I WASN'T HERE Sweden in the early 1950s. Elina is a member of the Finnish-speaking minority living in northern Sweden. Her father, whom she loved dearly, died of tuberculosis a few years ago. Out in the moor just behind her house, Elina believes that she can still talk to her Dad. She is a very lonely girl. Because she was ill for so long, Elina is obliged to repeat a whole year at school. Her teacher,Ms.Holm, thinks that her new pupil is unkempt; she decides to take her in hand and turn her into neat and tidy schoolgirl.This entails speaking perfect Swedish, not using Finnish expressions and, above all, respecting persons of authority - especially her teacher. The shy Elina, proud and offended by so little attempt to understand her situation, rebels against the way Ms.Holm treats her. A battle of wills ensues, and Elina's only recourse is to refuse to cooperate. Nobody seems able to mediate between these two stubborn opponents.Again and again,Elina takes to wandering out into the moor to try and commune with her father. The situation becomes unbearable. Then, one day while out in the moor again, Elina sinks so deeply into the ground that it threatens to engulf her. At this moment Elina realises that she is not alone; she is loved and needed.When Elina goes to school the next morning, everything is quite different. Even Ms. Holm senses that her pupil will not be intimidated any longer.

This is one of my favorite movies. It is breathtakingly beautiful with many outdoor shots. I am a guy with a short attention span, and I get bored quickly but even though this movie was going on at a leisurely pace it still had me spellbound.

It has an amazingly simple plot, a clash of wills between a teacher and a student. It is one of those rare movies that show a child's point of view in a truthful and refreshing manner without over-dramatizing. Acting by everybody concerned is exceptional especially Bibi Andersson as Tora Holm and Natalie Minnevik as Elina.

If you are reading this review give this movie a chance.

Wonderful movie for children, which should be addressed for adult/family audiences as well. Clear minded and straight ahead story with terrific children actors, shot in a breathtaking landscape, about a stubborn and righteous girl (11), fighting for her rights, getting into deadly trouble, but finally succeeding against all odds and against the majority of everybody else. Very touching, moving, striking, just wonderful. Obviously (almost) only the Scandinavian countries are able to produce such intense, rich and wonderful family films. Seen on the award ceremony of childrens section of Berlin Filmfestival 2003, where the film, with good reason, won the main award.

The film Elina - Som om jag inte fanns is set in the early 1950 when poverty was common in rural northern Sweden. A young girl named Elina who had recovered from tuberculosis wandered to the moor everyday where she spoke to her dead father, because unlike her indifferent teacher Ms. Holm, he might be the only "person" that would listen to young Elina….

Elina - Som om jag inte fanns is a Sweden- Finnish film. The story of the film is universal, although it sets in the area on the Swedish side of border between Finland and Sweden. Except for the lack of ornamentation, it is a sweet story focusing on dimensions of people. This film treats children's world of mind in a much careful and understanding way. Elina is a gentle, innocent character who is a isolated from others and the society. The acting is quite convincing and the story thought provoking. Overall, I highly recommend this film to people who care about childrent's worlds.

This a film that actually moved me.

First of all because it's a Finnish film. And also a good one=)

Second of all because it is about a minority in society.

It's quite interesting that today Swedish is a minority in Finland.. So if a film like this was done today it could be about an other minority.. many things have changed since the fifties..

One thing that really spoke to me was that the girl was so determined and brave to always do the right thing. I wish I had her courage!

It is a fantastic movie, worth seeing..For everybody who wants something to think about.

-Lotta

Avoid this piece of crap at all cost. I just sat thru this awful film in a local theatre. I wanted to leave after 15 minutes due to panic attacks and nausea. But i was there with a friend and felt obligated to stay thru-out.

The story is non-existant, the plot is nowhere to be found. There is no conflict (or problem) to be solved. The actors are bad e.t.c....

We follow a little girl called ELINA, her sister, her mother and

a strict schoolteacher (Bibi Andersson). This is a parody on film-making, and a mockery of interesting stories about life.

If the "bad teacher" vs "good student" interests you, I would strongly recommend watching: "Hets", "Ole, Dole, Doff", "Zero de Conduite", instead of this awful movie.

My rating: 0/10 AVOID AT ALL COST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I am used to action movies and to movies about the power of vengeance. This is a movie about the power of forgiveness. Everyone should see it.

It is photographed in northern Sweden in a very beautiful landscape. The actors, especially the little girl protagonist, are just great.