Patrik Age 1,5 (2008) directed by Ella Lemhagen

[reviews_and_ramblings]

A Swedish gay couple adopt what they think is a 15-month-old orphan, only to meet their new son, a 15-year-old homophobic delinquent.

Director: Ella Lemhagen

Writers: Michael Druker (play), Ella Lemhagen

Release Date: 12 September 2008 (Sweden)
3 November 2008 (AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival, USA)

Taglines: No family could be happier!

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Storyline: After moving from the city to a small town, gay couple Sven (Torkel Petersson) and Goran (Gustaf Skarsgård) adopt a child. But when Patrik (Thomas Ljungman) arrives in their lives, it turns out he's not 1.5 years old as they were told by the adoption agency -- he's a rebellious, homophobic 15-year-old. While the couple houses the angry boy until the mix-up is resolved, his presence causes them to reassess their lives.

Awards: 2009 Guldbagge Awards Nomination as Best Actor (Bästa manliga huvudroll) to Gustaf Skarsgård and as Best Supporting Actor (Bästa manliga biroll) to Torkel Petersson
2009 Audience Award as Best Feature to Ella Lemhagen, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
2009 Rosebud Award as Best Feature Film to Ella Lemhagen, Verzaubert - International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Patrik Age 1.5 (2008)
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video











Cast (in credits order):
Gustaf Skarsgård ... Göran Skoogh
Torkel Petersson ... Sven Skoogh
Thomas Ljungman ... Patrik Eriksson (as Tom Ljungman)
Amanda Davin ... Isabell
Annika Hallin ... Eva
Jacob Ericksson ... Lennart Ljung
Anette Sevreus ... Louise Ljung
Mats Blomgren ... Jan Åström
Malin Cederblad ... Monika Åström (as Malin Cederbladh)
Antti Reini ... Tommy Karlsson
Mirja Burlin ... Carina Karlsson
Vilde Helmerson ... Lillebror Karlsson
Patrik Rydmark ... Storebror Karlsson
Anders Lönnbro ... Urban Adler
Anna Wallander ... Sister Irja
Åsa-Lena Hjelm ... Vivianne
Marie Delleskog ... Britt-Marie Svensson
Johan Kylén ... Socialchef
Kristian Lima de Faria ... Socialassistent (as Kristian Lima De Faria)
Karin de Frumerie ... Receptionist
Robin Stegmar ... Policeman
Richard Ulfsäter ... Sven's Collegue
Britta Andersson ... Waitress

    
Goran & Sven

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

This is a very well balanced movie, not too much "family" like, Sven and Goran are a gay couple and you can "see" that, but they are also an ordinary couple, with the desire to build a family (or at least Goran has). To be "right" for the Social Service clearance, they move in a even too perfect neighborhood, that to me resemble an "American Beauty" nightmare, and it reminded me a bit of Desperate Housewives, even if the set is in Sweden and not USA: Goran, the "wife" of the couple (Sven goes out every morning to work in the city while Goran remains in the suburbs) tries with all his own to mix to the other housewifes, and some of them welcome him as one of them, some others try to seduce the new "available" man, even if he is not so available.
The plot is intelligent and funny, and very, very romantic. It's probably even better since nor Sven or Goran are perfect: Sven's faults are more evident, former alcoholic and bad boy, he is probably not ready to be a father even if he loves Goran; on the other side Goran is so absorbed by his dream to be a father that doesn't realize that maybe Sven is not on his same track.
Very good movie, highly recommended.