Under the Sun

Sweden, the middle of the fifties. Since his mother died, Olof has been alone on the family farm. He cannot read or write, and depends on his younger friend Erik for anything on paper. Erik is a former sailor who never stops claiming he has known hundreds of women. One day Olof places an advertisement in the local paper for a housekeeper. Ellen, who answers, is from the city, well-mannered, and from a world Olof knows nothing about. Across the summer the house changes and Olof changes, while Erik works on getting her for himself. Colin Nutley directs the Swedish film; two hours and ten minutes, with Rolf Lassgård as Olof, Helena Bergström as Ellen and Johan Widerberg as Erik. It is adapted from a story by H. E. Bates. It was nominated for the foreign language film Oscar for 1999.