An unnamed Swedish 9-year-old (Blanca Engström) is left behind for the summer when her aid-worker parents travel to Africa in 1981, and placed in the care of her aunt Anna (Tova Magnusson-Norling), a single woman without much experience with children. For a few days, the slightly built, redheaded pre-adolescent attends a swimming school, while Anna smokes, plays records, and throws raucous parties. The girl and her friend Ola (Vidar Fors), a shy farmer's son, find Anna's antics amusing, but then Anna goes off on an extended holiday with an old boyfriend, and the girl is left to fend for herself. She lies to both Ola and to a neighbor named Gunnar (Leif Andrée) about Anna's whereabouts, which gives her license to do whatever she wants, including pursuing a fleeting friendship with Gunnar's sex-obsessed daughter, Tina (Emma Wigfeldt), and Tina's friend, Gisela (Michelle Vistam), who like to pretend they're members of the singing group ABBA. A fairy tale–like but also naturalistic film about one young girl's experience of being home alone—observing the teens and adults around her behaving more badly than the kids—this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)
The Girl
Olive, 95 min., in Swedish w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95, Feb. 8 Volume 26, Issue 2
The Girl
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