As It Is In Heaven By Kay Pollak

E’ stato un falso acquisto, perchè pensavo fosse in italiano. Comunque ho apprezzato tantissimo le modalità con cui ho potuto restituire il predotto. Vorrei dire che il film merita di essere capito. E avendolo già visto, posso dire che è uno dei film più belli che io abbia visto. Grazie.

今日5月18日、モーニング娘。第7代目リーダー新垣里沙は、10年と9ヶ月ものキャリアを収めアイドル界前人未踏の金字塔を打ち立てアイドル戦国時代の最前線から卒業していった。
　『as it is』(ありのまま)と題された本作はあくまで彼女のソロ映像集ではありますが、モーニング娘。新垣里沙の十年間を締め括る集大成となる映像作品です。
　スポットライトはロケ地沖縄の太陽。画面からの光を浴びているだけで、こちらまで日焼けしてしまいそうだ。
　彼女が第二の故郷と親しむ沖縄は、やはり彼女と波長が合うのだろう。BGMも映像にマッチしているのだが、いちど音声無しで鑑賞してみるとそれがよくわかる。ふりそそぐ陽射しの波長、そよぐ風や波打つウエーブとリズム、沖縄のエネルギーが彼女にチューニングを合わせ、陽気で優雅な音楽を画面一杯に奏でているのが聞こえそうな気がしてきます。
　眩しくよく瞬きを繰り返す彼女の眼差し。物憂げでありながらどこか恥じらうような流し目は、彼女がもう大人の女性なのだと語りかけてきます。
　洗いざらしのキャミソールが見目麗しいプロローグから始まり、海辺のシーンではビキニの背中がなんとも麗しい。すっきりとした肩胛骨が、天使の羽根の痕跡のように見えてくるのは私だけだろうか。
　後半は先行リリースされた写真集『ASCENSION』のメイキング映像が収められていますが、写真集の特典映像とは別バージョンが楽しめます。なかでも彼女の十年間を振り返るインタビューは、ファン必見でしょう。
　まるで彼女の魅力を逐一見逃すまいと、まるで愛でるかのようにスローなカメラワークは、誰もが夢見る恋人目線なのだろう。
　それに応えて、彼女はこの十年間を振り返るかのようにして幾度となくカメラを振り返る。彼女が歩んでゆく足跡を一緒に連れ立って辿っていくような、素敵な映像作品に仕上がっています。
　女優に転身する彼女は、いったいどこへ向かって歩んでゆくのだろう。

If this movie doesn’t touch you, doesn’t speak to you at all – well, you should see a shrink, as you are likely to be unhappy and emotionally stiff.

This story is not for analyzing but for breaking the analytical, stubborn mind and cutting through its cold, deceptive intellectualism to the center of one’s being – Love.

Dry, analytical words are of no value. They can give the ego a sense of superiority but deprive one from experiencing beauty and joy.

It would be nice if one could let go of one’s stupid intellectualism and dive into the sea of the Heart.

This is what this movie is about. It is not about analysing and about being philosophical, it is about shifting from living as a thinking being (i.e. being dead) to living as a listening being, where the abundance of Love is.

When we listen to classical music which overwhelms us we don’t sit there analysing the notes or the rhythm or the age when it was written (well, normal people don’t). We surrender to it. This movie is about surrender of that which keeps us away from happiness, it is about letting go of the cold intellect and waking up to Life.

Seeing this movie is like hearing a symphony that leaves you both empty and full. Empty of misery and full of what is beyond words and thoughts.

If you can deal with subtitles this is really a great flick. I live the lead character. Its a great story line. Its very real in how people are. I like getting a birds eye view of other cultures. There is only 2 scenes that are a little risque but tolerable. And only one problem I had with the “theology” of the pastors wife. But other than that its a great movie. Very real.

Film Review SAGF-1

(This review was originally published in the Swedish American Geneologist, December, 2008)

Så som i Himmelen (As It Is in Heaven), 2004, directed by Kay Pollak, DVD non-USA format, Swedish with English subtitles, Amazon.com $25.99 plus shipping.

Almost unknown in the US, this beautiful and heartwarming film from Sweden has been described by critics as one of the best Swedish films made in recent years and has been nominated for several awards in Europe. It was recently shown at the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia after our annual Semlor gathering. I quickly rushed to find a copy for myself to share with others. Regrettably, I will have to try and convert it to US format, or find a European format DVD player, to show it other than at the Museum. So unlike the popular fare being churned out by Hollywood, the film deserves much wider acclaim in the US among all moviegoers, not just Swedish Americans.

Taking place in a small village, Ljusåker, in the far northern province of Norrland, the story is about a small boy (Daniel Dareus) raised by a single mother, who has a talent for the violin but is bullied by local boys. He grows up to become a world-famous musician and conductor, driven by his talent and desire for perfection, to ill health and exhaustion. He returns alone to his little village to recover and rest, buying the now vacant old village schoolhouse to live in. The local people do not remember him as a child but know of his reputation as a conductor. Members of the small village church choir ask him to help them with their music, and he reluctantly agrees. His methods are unorthodox but the choir members come to love him. Others, including the Pastor, question his motives and methods.

The story unfolds to reveal how he affects all those in the village not only in their music but also to grow in their personal lives. All Daniel (played by Michael Nyqvist) ever wanted to do in life was to help people find their own voice, and he is immensely successful in doing so. The Choir, the Church, and the village are all transformed as a result of his presence. It is the rare film that is so moving that it can give one a lump in the throat almost from beginning to end.

Along the way, the Pastor has an epiphany, a battered wife gains confidence as a star soloist, a developmentally disabled boy is discovered to have a great bass voice, and many others face up to their talents and to the issues in their lives. And they create music to stir the heart and evoke God’s grace in fraternity and mutual love. Especially moving is the song that Daniel writes for Gabriela (Gabriela’s song), in which she gains confidence over her fears to sing in a Village concert. (Gabriela is played by Helen Sjöholm, who was the voice of Kristina in the Opera, Kristina fran Duvemåla). Other fine Swedish singers including Frida Hallgren, Andre Sjöberg, Ingela Olsson, and Lennart Jähkel, who perform as members of the choir. You will also hear other familiar songs beautifully sung, including “Amazing Grace” sung in English, and “Beautiful Saviour”, sung wonderfully in Swedish.

Try and find a way to see this memorable film. If you do not know Swedish, the subtitles will let you enjoy the film just as well. You will also see splendid photography of the village and the landscape in Norrland and a glimpse of village life in Sweden in modern times. As is common in Swedish films there are a few minor nude scenes, but not lascivious or offensive and certainly acceptable for teenagers and up. The Swedish habit of always portraying the clergy as flawed and hypocritical is also present in this film, but the overriding story of the power of love and grace in people’s lives more than makes up for this Pastor’s human failing.

Dennis L. Johnson
February 2009