Simon and the Oaks

             A fine Swedish film with English subtitles, "Simon and the Oaks", comes to the Keystone Arts Cinema. This film is based upon the novel by Marianne Fredriksson. It is the story of two boys coming of age in Sweden during World War II. The marvelous screenplay is by Marnie Blok. The appropriate musical score is composed by Annette Fochs. The excellent cinematography is by Dan Laustsen, while the project is under the expert direction of  Lisa Ohlin. 

          Because Swedish Jews were fearful of what the Nazis would do to them the story can be said to center around anti-semitism.  But actually it is about two completely diverse cultures colliding and exploding. Farming and carpentry compete against fine arts, literature and music. At times this film gets syrupy like a soap opera. I must warn you that there is a very sexually explicit scene if this sort of thing offends you.

           Talented Swedish actors abound in this motion picture. Bill Skarsgard plays the title role of (the older) Simon while his Jewish friend (the older) Isak is portrayed by Karl Linnertorp. Helen Sjoholm is Simon's non Jewish mother,  while her husband Erik is Stephan Godicke. Jan Josef Liefers is Isak's Jewish father, Ruben. Simon's real mother, Olga, is played by Lena Nylen. This is the best film I have seen in this genre in a long time.

          This film opens October 26th at the Keystone Arts Cinema in Indianapolis.