The Children of the Bolder Neighbors – Alla vi barn i Bullerbyn (1986)

Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom | 92 minutes | family | Actors: Linda Bergström, Henrik Larsson, Crispin Dickson Wendenius, Ellen Demérus, Anna Sahlin, Harald Lönnbro, Tove Edfeldt, Sören Petersson, Ann-Sofie Knape, Ingwar Svensson, Elisabeth Nordkvist, Bill Jönsson, Catti Edfeldt, Louise Ræder, Peter Dywik Olof Sjogren, Ewa Carlsson, Lasse Ståhl, Britta Sterneland, Nina Englund, Sigfrid Eriksson, Eddie Axberg

The books about the Bolder Neighbors are perhaps the most personal of Scandinavia’s best-known children’s author, Astrid Lindgren. She grew up in a similar house in the early 20th century, surrounded by apple trees, just like the main characters from her beloved books. The central figure is Lisa, the first person, a seven-year-old girl who tells what is happening in her environment. She lives with her two older brothers Lasse and Bosse on the Middenhof farm in Bolderburen, a mini village consisting of three houses. Olle, Kersten and their parents live at the Zuidhof and Anna and Britta live at the Noordhof, of course also with their parents and their eighty-year-old blind grandfather.

Before Lasse Hallström created an international furore with films such as ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ and ‘Chocolat’, he mainly directed Swedish productions. ‘The children of the Bolderburen’, together with its successor ‘Meer over Bolderburen’ and the TV series of the same name, was the last before it really broke through. The director already had two Oscar nominations for his direction and script of ‘My Life as a Dog’ (‘Mitt liv som hund’) in 1985. He has already proven more than once that Hallström can shoot beautiful pictures, but for those who If you’re not convinced, ‘Bolderburen’ is a fantastic introduction to the work of the Swedish filmmaker.

The omnibus ‘The children of the Bolderburen’ takes place during the four seasons, each with its own characteristics, which are beautifully reflected in the films. The film ‘The children of the Bolderburen’ is set in the summer and autumn. The start of the summer holidays is also the start of the film. The characters are introduced to the viewers in a calm way and you soon experience the silly adventures that the six go through. It is a wonderfully innocent film, no poverty, no (intense) quarrels, no violence, only children playing, laughing and romping around. The children act remarkably of course, for all this was the first step in the acting profession. Only a few continued their career in the film world.

Perhaps it is the healthy Swedish outdoors, but what is striking is that the children are unanimously beautiful. They could have walked right out of a Mexx or Esprit children’s clothing catalog. Nevertheless, the film is authentic and atmospheric. The humor of the book is a bit lacking, but the pranks the six play are quite amusing. In the book, each adventure or experience is divided into chapters, and this structure is more or less copied in the film, so that they are separate scenes, which follow each other without transitional means. However, this is not disturbing. Other topics from the book are also very well translated into the film, such as the communication system by means of cans and tensioned wire between the bedroom windows of the children. The part about Lisa and Anna’s shopping is also very witty and recognizable, as is the myth that Agda tells the girls. They have to climb over nine fences and pick a flower at each fence, when they put this bouquet under their pillow, they dream about their future husband.

‘The children of the Bolderburen’ is a sweet and touching film, and although the Swedish language could be a barrier for the very little ones who can’t read subtitles yet, it is particularly suitable for the whole family. The images speak for themselves!