With Together (Tillsammans), Swedish director Lukas Moodysson has created a charming,
quirky tale set in 1975 Stockhom.
The film begins in Göran’s (Gustaf Hammarsten) hippie
commune as he learns that Franco is dead. While the whole commune celebrates, Göran receives
a call from his sister Elisabeth (Lisa Lindgren) saying that she is leaving her
abusive husband Rolf (Michael Nyqvist who played Mikael Blomkvist in the
Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series) and asking him if she and her
two children can move in with him. As Elisabeth and her family join the commune
family, there is an immediately clash of cultures.
In the commune are Anna (Jessica Liedberg) who has divorced her
husband Lasse (Ola Rapace) because she decided she was a lesbian. But they
still live at the commune with their son Tet (named after the Tet Offensive of
the Vietnam War). Göran lives with Lena (Anja Lundkvist), who convinces him that an open
relationship will help their relationship. She quickly beds political Erik, who
would rather talk politics than make love. Klaus, a weaver, who is gay, has his
eyes on a relationship with Lasse. And Signe and Sigvard and their son are
concerned about the equality of commune life and fairly quickly move out to go
to another commune.
Göran’s view of life comes as he fixes the children breakfast. “We’re
like individual oak flakes which when combined with heat become porridge. . . .
like life.”
Elisabeth and her daughter and son reluctantly become drawn into
the life and attitudes of the household. Anna has eyes for Elisabeth and
teaches her new feminist ideas (like not shaving her armpits). We know her
ideas are being processed when Elisabeth gets upset because she realizes Stefan
her son is sleeping on a blue pillowcase
and Eva her daughter is sleeping on a pink one… and she forces them to change,
so they won’t grow up with stereotypes of gender roles.
In the meantime, Rolf has trouble adjusting to life alone. He
drinks too much and obviously hates his life. When he takes the kids to a
Chinese restaurant, they complain about how they can’t eat meat and won’t be
allowed to celebrate Christmas. Rolf wants to be a good father, but he loses
his wallet, gets into a huge fight, and is arrested, leaving the kids waiting
for him on the street.
At the house, the kids and adults play football and they ask
Stefan to join them. Tet is the first of his peers to treat him like a friend. They
become friends and Stefan teaches him about playing with legos and weapons and
war. Stefan decides it’s time to strike for meat, and they carry signs to
change the adults’ minds. When they are successful, we realize the whole
household is open to change.
The film allows the characters to sort out their lives and
recognize the importance of the Togetherness they have painted on their
Volkswagon van. I was particularly struck by the following quotes:
Klaus (who is trying to convince Lasse they need to experiment). We’re all people and we can’t be dividing ourselves; we’re the same. We can’t have barriers like that. Why should we?
Lasse. I have my barriers and I’m very happy with that.
Elisabeth. Open relationships don’t work.
Birger (a friend of Rolf's). Loneliness is the most awful thing in this world... I'd rather eat porridge together than pork cutlets alone.
The film joyfully suggests that all of us could grow with a true sense
of community and togetherness, and that idea left me with a big smile.
Together (2000) **** (with subtitles on Netflix streaming)
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