Together

"Do you know the C.M.L.R.L? The Communist-Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary League?" Together feels not too far off from a Swedish version of Wes Anderson, and not just because of the frequent zooms and the off-kilter domestic setting; there's a candid and respectful understanding of the younger characters, who have their own unique personalities but are subject to the whims of the slightly absurd adults that surround them. There's some solid comedy in this film, which takes place in a single communal house in Stockholm that, if you were to believe the occupants, stands as the headquarters for a coming social revolution. But to the audience, it's mostly a series of laughably un-self-aware statements about gender norms, nudity, and shaving practices. Yet writer-director Lukas Moodysson combines this setting with some adolescent drama, with a few children finding out more about themselves and making their own way in the world while being surrounded by dysfunction. Not always ha-ha kind of funny, but a nice balance of comedy and drama. Plus the film keeps you from getting too down by playing ABBA every once in a while. (3.5/5)

Sweden must have a thing for communes. I've only seen a few movies from there and like 40% of them had communal living in it. This was fine for what it was, a sort of slice-of-life viewing with some soft political themes, with the socialist ideas not really addressed head-on and in some cases given to lesser characters as a means of dismissing them as silly. I wasn't a fan of the reconciliation at the end, but the music was good and the scenes with intense emotion were well-acted.

The time is 1975 and the location is Stockholm. Goran runs a collective that consists of a group of like-minded individuals who turn their backs on capitalism, meat, and mass media, among other things. However, things take a turn when Goran lets his sister, a victim of spousal abuse, and her two children into the communal living arrangement. The movie has its fair share of subtle laughs and high drama and benefits from some strong performances, but suffers at the hands of director Lukas Moodysson's (or perhaps the editor's) odd, inconsistent, and very distracting choices when cutting from scene to scene and sometimes from shot to shot as often it's just a straight cut but at other times strange dissolves or fades are used. Other than that, it's a joyful film with an uplifting conclusion.

A nicely paced and toned piece on hippies living in a commune together in the 1970s. The lesson seems to be that together is better but only if everyone sets boundaries. Everything was wrapped up pretty well even if some of the conversions were a little bit unlikely.

Saw it in Milwaukee years ago. A classic.

It´s 1975 in Stockholm and a small commune led loosely by the kind-natured Göran (Gustaf Hammarsten), who will do anything to avoid a conflict, the group spend their time arguing about left-wing politics and other questions such as whether doing the dishes is bourgeois. The commune's dynamics are significantly shaken when Göran's sister, Elizabeth (Lisa Lindgren), leaves her violent husband Rolf (Michael Nyqvist) and moves in, bringing her two children Eva and Stefan. Self-declared lesbian Anna (Jessica Liedberg) lives in the commune with her ex-husband Lasse (Ola Rapace) and their son Tet (named after the Tet offensive), who befriends Stefan. Eva meanwhile befriends a lonely boy across the street. Elisabeth's husband Rolf makes a concerted effort to clean up his act, although not before getting drunk and arrested. Further relationship problems within the commune belongs to Klas (Shanti Roney), who is desperately in love with Lasse, and between Göran and his selfish and immature girlfriend Lena (Anja Lundqvist), who wants the benefits of an open relationship but not the responsibilities. In the middle of this the idealist communist Erik (Olle Sarri) tries to involve the whole commune in the struggle against capitalism and everything that is not part of the revolution. However, with the new-arrivals in the commune, lives of the members do change in all sorts of directions... Lukas Moodysson´s "Together" is such a great little tale of relationships and all the good and the bad that comes with it. The storyline is simple but yet complex with many layers. The acting is so natural and all the actors perform in a very believable way (despite some funny looking wigs...). The red thread is love, security, acceptance, comfort and to be together in any sort of shape or form. As friends, as lovers, as parents and children. The tagline "I'd rather eat porridge together than pork chops alone" is the message that carries the film and that is something we all can relate to. Moodysson also focus on the interests of the individual(s) versus the interests of the group in many ways. The film has a slight "haphazard" feeling of 70s filmmaking with zoom ins, shaky cameras, not always on the spot acting and not always perfect editing or scene structures. This however adds to the quality of the film. Moodysson let the characters develop throughout the film and he gives them time to do that creating a drama that is quite powerful in my eyes. I loved "Together" when it came out and I still do. It´s a heartfelt, funny, difficult, sad and genuine film. And the final scene with the soccer game in the snow (pointing out that everyone can play soccer) is such a wonderful and sentimental ending.

A wonderful slice of life in the 70's. I thought it would be dated, but instead I was reeled in by its charm

Being together is best :) Crazy community that is more like a dyfunctional family, but the story is really heartwarming :)

One of my favourite films of the last 20 years or so.

Moodysson satirises young, idealistic socialists here with this charming, bittersweet comedy of manners which ends in a surprisingly uplifting way.