Britt-Marie was here – Britt-Marie var här (2019)

Directed by: Tuva Novotny | 94 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Pernilla August, Vera Vitali, Peter Haber, Malin Levanon, Mahmut Suvakci, Anders Mossling, Olle Sarri, Lancelot Ncube, Cecilia Milocco, Stella Oyoko Bengtsson, Hans Brorson, Sigrid Högberg, Johanna Westfelt, Elliot Alabi Andersson, Wilhelm Siverbo, Princess Wesseh, Nils Magnusson, Kevin Wesseh, Nils Magnusson, Ella Juliusson Sturk, Dion Llaphashtica, Abdouile Sise

Swedish writer Fredrik Backman, born in 1981, is making great strides with books that are in great demand all over the world. His best-known book is ‘A man called Ove’ (2012), about a grumpy middle-aged man who lives by self-imposed rules. The film adaptation of this bestseller brought him even more fame. The main character in Backman’s novel ‘Britt-Marie was hier’ (2015) is in many ways like the surly Ove, because she also lives her life on the basis of lists and well-defined frames. And Britt-Marie also gradually learns the story that you are never too old to change your life.

Britt Marie is 63 years old. She has been married to Kent for forty years and is his mainstay as a housewife. The couple has always remained childless. She’s not unhappy. Britt-Marie seems to be in her element when she can clean, wash and make sure dinner is on the table at six o’clock sharp. But then something happens that changes her view of the past decades. When Kent has a heart attack, she rushes to the hospital, but someone is already sitting at his bedside… a much younger woman, with whom Kent appears to be having an affair.

Without talking things through, Britt-Marie decides to turn her life around. The first step is to go to the job center, but the employee there indicates that jobs for women her age (and men too, by the way) are not up for grabs, especially given her lack of work experience. There is one vacancy: that of manager of the youth center in Borg. Oh yes, he also has to coach the local youth soccer team. Although Britt-Maries’ knowledge of football only extends to naming her husband’s favorite team, she takes this opportunity with both hands.

‘Britt-Marie Was Here’ is a typical fish-out-of-water tale. The developments are therefore easy to predict. Initial resistance, slow rapprochement, roadblocks and of course Kent tells Britt-Marie that everything is going wrong at home without her. The most enjoyable part is this drama in the scenes with the children, as they give the film much needed energy. The character sketches don’t go very deep; the only girl we get to know somewhat is Vega, but it doesn’t go much further than practically breathing football. The main character himself also remains on the surface. Some flashbacks show a childhood trauma and it is suggested that Britt-Marie is the way she is, but we don’t feel it. All this makes ‘Britt-Marie was here’ not a bad film, but also not immediately recommended.