Under the Sun

From the Director of House of Angels this is a sensous, lush and lyrical film, set in 1956 in the sun-drenched summer countryside of Sweden.

Sweet and lonesome Olof (Rolf Lassgård) lives by himself on his family's farm after the death of his mother. Unable to read or write and therefore forced to take people on trust, Olof must depend upon his womanizing younger friend Erik (Johan Widerberg) to help him with the farmwork. Erik, once a sailor and now a part-time gravedigger, shamelessly uses Olof's money for bets at the racetrack. One day, out of the blue, Olof places an advertisement in the local paper: "Lonely farmer, 39, own car. Seeks young lady housekeeper. Photograph appreciated." It's not long before the ad attracts a surprising candidate: Ellen (Helena Bergström), a beautiful, 34-year-old, well-heeled city woman.

As the summer progresses, Ellen effectively takes over both the house and Olof's heart. Erik, also taken by Ellen, is determined to destroy her blossoming romance with Olof by unearthing the secret past he's convinced she is hiding.