A Swedish Love Story

ROY ANDERSSON (born 1943) started his film career with short films „Visiting Your Son” (1967) and „Getting the Bike” (1968). You will see both of them also in Sleepwalkers. Andersson’s first feature was „A Swedish Love Story” (1970), where the young Andersson gave a deep look into the world of love. This film won in Berlinale four prizes and was very successful amongst the audience. His next film „Gilliap” (1976) was black comedy with a very serious style. After that Andersson quit with films and made only advertisements.

In 1981 Andersson created his own company and explained that he wanted to be free in his creation. After that he made many very special and successful ads, which won all together eight Golden Lions in Cannes.

In 1987 he made a short film about AIDS „Something Happened”. This film was supposed to be shown in Swedish schools, but was denied, as it was too shocking.

In his next film „World of Glory” (1991) Andersson went even futher with his serious themes and discovered a totally new style. The film won hearts of the film world. It became a prize of Canal Plus and press prize in famous Clermont-Ferrand short film festival, which in the world of shorts is equalized with Cannes. Even today „World of Glory” belongs to the Clermont-Ferrand TOP 10 of the world best short films.

Roy Andersson most famous feature is „Songs From the Second Floor” (2000). It is called to be the film with the Andersson style and it is similar with „World of Glory”. The film is full of absurd comedy, anticapitalism, Fellini like grotesque and characterizing of the Swedish culture. Altogether Roy Andersson has done over three hundred ads, many short films and four features.