FIMPEN (STUBBY)
Sweden, 1974, 81 minutes, Colour.
Johan Bergman, Magnus Harenstan, Inger Bergman, Arne Bergman, Annelle Bergman.
Directed by Bo Widerberg.
Stubby is a Swedish children's film. It was directed by Bo Widerberg who achieved international fame with Elvira Madigan, Adalen 31, The Ballad of Joe Hill, and more recently The Man On The Roof. The theme of Stubby is sport. In this way most young audiences, especially boys, will be able to identify with it. The Swedish soccer team actually play themselves in the film which gives the film an atmosphere of authenticity. The film is probably the visualizing of every young sports-minded boy's ambition. Parents may enjoy it too, especially fathers.
1. How enjoyable and delightful a film? For what audience was it made? Impact on children, on adults? The nature of the differences? The differences? The different appeals?
2. The universal value of the football theme, its appeal? Dreams and reality? The Swedish emphasis of this f11mf including the Swedish Soccer Team? The atmosphere of authenticity for the fantasy? Its appeal to a non-Swedish audience?
3. The sense of realism that the film captured? Ordinary suburban life, interest in sport? The games themselves? The charm of the fantasy of a young child achieving such success? The fantasy of so many in the audience? How helpful is this to watch? Enjoy?
4. The film's presentation of the games, the skill with which they were photographed, the tension and atmosphere, commentators etc., news reports on papers and television?
5. The satire on sport promotion? The details of Stubby's being inaugurated into the team, his playing? The satire on the fans and their support, especially the man who discovered him?
6. How attractive a character was Stubby? A credible little boy playing soccer, his home life, his mother and his sister, his friends, even to forgetting to turn up for a match? His schooling and his sleepiness? How did his success affect him?
7. The pleasantness of a dream world, fantasy of success, the humour of a six year-old playing football? The humour in the paper interviews, television?
8. The personalities of the manager and the team? Their morale, co-operation, the humour of their reading the book to Stubby and going to sleep?
9. The importance of showing Stubby at school, learning, sleeping? The pride of the headmaster in his being a success? The interest of the school-teacher?
10. The build-up to the final match, the taxi driver and the discussion etc.?
11. The humour of the continual references to the 'star player' with which the film opened, his autographs, success, creating the atmosphere for the whole film by showing a successful man? His being out-manoeuvred by Stubby? His constant trying to get the thing right? His relationship with his girlfriend? The obsession and its humour?
12. The final message of the film, the comments of the schoolteacher about involvement and success?
