AMLEGARD (HOUSE OF ANGELS)

Sweden, 1992, 126 minutes, Colour.
Helena Bergstrom, Rikard Wolff, Per Oscarsson.
Directed by Colin Nutley.

Amlegard (House of Angels) was written and directed by British writer-director, Colin Nutley. After working in Britain and with a television series, Annika, he moved to Sweden to make documentaries and feature films. He recreates a Swedish village, the tensions, jealousies, and their being challenged by an unconventional pair who work in cabaret in Germany. The screenplay offers the opportunity to create the characters and atmosphere of a town as well as the breaking of its prejudices. The film has a light touch, aims for comedy - and stretches the bounds of plausibility. However, in its light heartedness and its seriousness in critiquing hypocrisy, it proves popular entertainment.

1.Swedish film, British director? The light touch? The village, its way of life, narrowness, the critique?

2.The visuals of the village, the countryside and its beauty, the homes and gardens, the buildings in the town, the shops, the church? The musical score?

3.The title, Erik's house, Fanny and her inheriting it, how she used it, the guests and the entertainment? Her finally selling the property but not her house?

4.Erik, his place in the town, his will, its being signed, the accidental death - at slow rate? Axel and his wanting to buy the property? The discovery of Fanny, her arrival with Zac on the bike, during the funeral? The consequent complications?

5.Fanny and Zac, on the bike, their arrival, scandalising the people? Their leather clothes? Their relationship? Fanny and the question about who was her father? Her mother's secret? Taking over the house, settling in? Their behaviour in the house, in the town? Frank manners, language? Their background in German cabaret? The reaction of the neighbours, Axel and his wanting to buy the property? The support of the priest? The jealousy of the women? The two elderly brothers and the past? The isolated man and his pornography? Their inviting their colleagues to the house, the celebration? The priest and his idea of the cabaret? Offsetting the critique? The discovery of the letter, Axel as her father? The resolution, selling the property, keeping the house?

6.Axel and his wife, upright citizen, their relationship, at home, the family? The antagonism? Gossip? The letter and the truth?

7.The priest, his sympathy, his preaching, his message, the funeral, his supporting Fanny and Zac, the critique of the people, arranging the concert - and its performance in the church?

8.Ivar and Gottfried, their life together, growing old, Gottfried and his memories, Ivar and his isolation? The possibility of Ivar being Fanny's father?

9.The man with the pornography, isolated - and his setting the fire?

10.The women of the town, their jealousy, gossip, cattiness?

11.The re-creation of the atmosphere of the village, its way of life, beliefs, its being challenged, changing?