Actually the movie is made up of two parts, the first is called ‘Paradise’, filmed in 2007 and follows the ordinary lives of Kerstin and Hans Stralstroem, an elderly couple that have been together for more than 60 years, living in the idyllic forests of Sweden. The film opens with Hans playing his trumpet, comfortably seated on the toilet, with his trousers neatly resting around his ankles, as he looks out to nature through the wide open door. Kerstin listens intently as she potters around in the garden. The audience loves it and laughs out loud with great anticipation on what else is in store for them.
When Kerstin is rowing over to a little island to pick some berries, Hans decides to surprise his wife with a hand baked sponge cake. He is the type of man that makes quick decisions not always bothering with the details but always with good intentions at heart. Soon Hans realises that he mixed up two different recipes and that he added potato instead of regular flour. Licking some dough from his finger, he decides that it tastes good and is not deterred from putting it in the oven. Half the cake ends up sticking to the form which Hans carefully scratches out to put on the other broken half of the cake. A few preserved pears on top and Kerstin won’t notice a thing.
Kerstin, who is naturally quiet, accepting and patient, has a handful with Hans who fits the stereotype of a nagging husband perfectly. He throws tantrums, commands her around but also makes her laugh with things like buying a silly mirror from a market that distorts their appearance into all kinds of bizarre figures.
One day he stretches Kerstin’s patience by deciding to redecorate the feature wall with a loud patterned tapestry. Will Kerstin take it or will she claim back the rightful place of her grandmothers hand woven rug?
For the next part ‘Swedish Tango’ we head back to the year 1999 when Kerstin is overwhelmed by a desire to learn the tango. At first Hans refuses to fulfill her wish, still offended by Kerstin’s late homecoming one night that left him bored and in some kind of emotional withdrawal from her life inducing presence. But once the sulking passes he agrees to a trip to Stockholm to attend a Tango class for seniors. Once there Kerstin soon falls homesick and becomes tired of the lessons and tending her hurting feet. Hans on the other hand really gets into the whole tango business and wants them to go one step further…
This is a documentary about an elderly couple that over the decades has learned to deal with each others moods and sometimes demanding personalities by refusing to let the other feel too complacent and by allowing themselves to be silly and childish yet respectful and tender towards each other. Their love for each other shines trough authentically and surely will be an inspiration for many.
Read also:
ALL MY MOVIE SUGGESTIONS
BOOK SUGGESTION: THE SHERE HITE READER – WRITINGS ON SEX, GLOBALIZATION AND PRIVATE LIFE
IS IT TIME FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE LETTER?
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE: THE PRACTICE OF LOVE
Back HOME
Technorati Tags: love, prime of life, long lasting marriage, movie
