monogatari82
This movie was recommended to me, and while I found it entertaining enough to watch, I could also predict the whole plot as it was unfolding. And I hate being able to do that. What kept me watching is that I enjoyed listening to the Swedish and see the countryside. While it carries a sentimental message, that it is never too late to change or to learn, that one should believe in oneself...that life is what you make it etc etc...it is right up there in the genre of Sister Act and similar. One element I liked was the discussion of bystander effect, and if one carries part of the responsibility of what happens to other people. I liked that there was a mix of characters from young to old, handicapped etc... but...they all remained a bit shallow, like their backstories were rushed and it was very black and white. I would not put the movie on a pedestal, I felt it was okay...but not great. It would not make it in my personal list of the top 20 best movies I have ever seen.
eyeintrees
My goodness, this film is nothing short of superb. On many levels it addresses the most prevailing themes of humanity and yet it is entwined with the beauty and majesty of music.Superbly acted, cleverly crafted, something of a little masterpiece.Where fear prevails there is suspicion of even the most innocent circumstances and where repression of the most basic human needs take place there can only be mayhem.How love and the enduring commitment to feel joy wins the day and leads the viewer to a bittersweet conclusion.This is one to watch again and again and revel in each and every time.
Roger Burke
It's interesting, actually odd I think, to see this movie classified here as Comedy first, then Drama. While there are a few comedic moments – as always in real life – most of this story centers upon the drama surrounding the psycho-social awakening of the central protagonist, Daniel Dareus (Michael Nyqvist), a violin maestro and concert conductor of international standing.The awakening specifically concerns Daniel's search for love, something he's been unable to achieve since his teens, when his mother died tragically as he watched – an episode that occurs in the first series of establishing scenes and voice-over. Hence, from the get-go, we know that Daniel is a fragile and emotionally disturbed genius who really needs help.Humans have a penchant for returning to the past for answers – a typical and often quite sensible approach to unresolved psychological problems, as most know. Daniel is no different: he goes back to his home village where he was cruelly bullied when very young, memories of which still haunt him.There, he buys his old school house: long left abandoned, unused, dilapidated and a metaphor for his own emotional state. Significantly, he begins the process of repairing the building and, tentatively at first, also reaching out to the local people, all of whom are wondering what brought such a famous personage to such a nondescript place that seems to be encased in snow and ice for most of the year. In particular, the local church pastor asks him to help out the local choir.Initially demurring because he's shy of human contact, Daniel eventually agrees after meeting the woman who manages a local post office/convenience store, Lena (Frida Hallgren) and with whom he gradually builds a romantic relationship, a crucial step in his self-rehabilitation. Along that way, moreover, Daniel also gets to know the various members of the choir and, to a large extent, the nature of their own insecurities, fears, troubles and doubts.Hence, there are various sub-plots concerning those choir members, all of whom provide different degrees of support and which assists Daniel with his now obsessive need to create a truly cohesive choir that can sing in absolute tonal harmony. Why? Because, not only is music the first and most basic language of humanity, it is – in Daniel's view – the only way to truly and effectively communicate with another human at a 'spiritual' level.The latter might be a bit of a stretch for some viewers, but it is illustrated in perhaps one of the most original choir recitals you'll ever see – anywhere – when the whole choir travels to a contest in Austria to compete internationally. Only the hardest of hearts within the worst cynics will shrug and walk away from that and Daniel's achievement.There are wonderful touches of irony and pathos when we learn about all the choir members as they, with Daniel's help, discover their new strengths and knowledge about each other. As always, some lose, some win. But, that's life, no? Which raises a fundamental issue: at the end, is Daniel a winner or loser? You can judge when you see this movie. All I can say is that it is fitting, win or lose.The production, from Denmark and Sweden, is top rate. The frozen north is captured beautifully. The acting is simply outstanding with the only familiar face for me being Nyqvist (and I've seen many Danish/Swedish films – but not enough as yet, obviously); the cast, when singing together, looked as though they truly enjoyed their work. And the sound track and singing are just perfect, for me.Nominated for Best Foreign Film for 2005, it lost out to a Spanish entry, The Sea Inside, a true-life biopic that I've seen and liked. From my perspective, however, this one is much better.Give it eight out of ten. Recommended for all.February 27, 2012.
susannettashop
This review only contains spoilers in the sense of offering an interpretation of the film. You must work hard to make my summary fit the plot of the film. The charismatic stranger who comes to a tiny, isolated town in Northern Sweden where he had been bullied as a child is a burnt out orchestral conductor. In this nameless town, the Church is so corrupt and out of touch as to be utterly lawless. Daniel succeeds in getting the small church choir there to sing the music of heaven, but at the same time destroys all the useful hierarchies. More importantly perhaps, he falls in love. The title, which comes from the Lord's Prayer, is only the first indication that the film is held together with strong Christian symbolism. Like Christ, Daniel is surrounded by good and bad women and betrayed by one of his disciples. Like Christ, he dies once to meet his maker and rise again as his believers convert all who listen to them.Despite its religo-didactic character, As it is in Heaven is a well made film with psychologically believable characters, sensitive acting and photography, and an apt representation of what it is like to learn how to make and perform vocal music. The marital close-ups will remind you of Portraits of a Marriage.
