Capricciosa

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Original Release: August 29, 2003 (Sweden)
Directed by: Reza Bagher
Written by: Reza Bagher (screenplay), Max Lundgren (novel)
Produced by: Claes-Göran Lillieborg, Søren Stærmose
Running Time: 90 minutes
Box Office: N/A

Seventeen-year-old Henrik (Linus Nilsson) lives a perfectly normal life until his mother dies. Unable to cope with the new situation, Henrik’s father (Rolf Lassgård) beings to neglect the children. The children learn how to manage their lives without a mother. However, the tide turns when Elvira (Noomi Rapace, then Norén) walks into the apartment – and straight into Henrik’s heart. Not only does Elvira give him the support he so desperately needs.

Linus Nilsson (Henrik), Rolf Lassgård (Goran), Noomi Rapace (Elvira), Matias Bergsten (Oliver), Moraea Myrgren-Johansson (Johanna), Carina Johansson (Henrik's Mother), Kerstin Andersson (Solveig), Siw Erixon (Eva-Britt), Hugo Emretsson (Hugo), Lisa Fry (Nina), Gustaf Hammarsten (Ulf), Maja Herrström (Kattis) A happy, loving family is shattered when the mother dies from cancer. The father takes up drinking again and soon disappears completely from the family. This leaves 17-year-old Henrik alone with his two younger siblings to care for. Social services are knocking at their door, and Henrik works hard to keep them away and patch a life together for the three of them. Henrik would rather play football and kiss girls, but has to sacrifice his dreams in order to keep his family going. When cheerful Elvira turns up, she brings love and meaning back into their lives. The bond between them grows even stronger when the child welfare authorities knocks on their door and threaten to separate them by placing them in different foster homes.

Director Reza Bagher, who won raves for his previous film "Vingar av glas", got the idea for the film from a script he didn't like, but he was drawn by the characterization of the father. Thus came the relationship with the surrounding community to build more on the father's shortcomings than the conflict surrounding the integration. The role was ultimately offered to an accepted by "Wallander" Rolf Lassgard, while Linus Nilsson made his film debut in the central role of his son. Noomi Rapace scored her second film role after a small speaking part in 1997's "Sanning eller Konsekvens". The casting certainly helped her future career, since "Capricciosa" was produced by Søren Stærmose, who later helmed "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels. "Capricciosa" was shown at many international film festivals, including in Berlin, Toronto and Copenhagen. It won the Audience Award as well as the award for Best Actor (Rolf Lassgard) at the Carrousel International du Film in 2004.