Customer Reviews

As It Is In Heaven (Så som i himmelen) [Imported] [Region 2 DVD]

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have only reviewed one movie before (a bad one), but I had to say something about this movie because it was such a great surprise. I think this is the best movie I have seen for years and my wife liked it even more. This movie is beautiful, touching, and has an important message. I think it is the best Scandinavian movie since "My Life as a Dog" and "Babettes Feast", perhaps the best Scandinavian movie ever. It is in Swedish with English subtitles.

Daniel Dareus a famous musician returns to his Childhood village Ljusåker in Northern Sweden after ending his career in the aftermath of a heart attack. The members of the local church choir ask him to help them. His professional methods are not easily understood by the locals but the choir members love him. The drama filled events that unfold result in people finding the courage to face their fears and to grow, something that is not appreciated by everyone. All his life all Daniel wanted to do was to help people finding their voice, and for the first time in his life he truly succeeds in doing that in more than one way.

The village and its people reminded me a lot of my own home village in Northern Sweden (I am from further North though). Daniel Dareus reminded me in more than one way of my Amazon friend Giordano Bruno and I recommend it to all my Amazon friends and anyone who is interested in seeing something different.

This review focuses on various human-emotion topics of the film rather than details of the storyline:

I sobbed from a spiritual/soul epiphany sparked by this film. Films like this that dig beneath the surface of human experience are once in a blue moon. It demonstrates a sincere belief in the good of people- it speaks the message again and again that one's best is all anyone can ever do. It serves to humanize all members of a society, regardless of their actions (referring to battered woman and husband). It is a story of a group of individuals learning to listen to one another and harmonize- the choir is a metaphor for the grander society; an indispensable lesson for the well-being of our world. It is about release of judgment and fears.
A beautiful film! If you enjoyed Life is Beautiful (Roberto Benini) or Together(another Swedish film)- you may really like As It Is In Heaven.

This is the first movie I've been to where at the end I wanted to stand and applaud. I think the sound of the choir at the end had such an overwhelming physical affect I was physically and emotionally moved. I felt as if all my cells were hopping.
After I saw this film I heard a physician on public radio talking about 'sound therapy' and the ways in which music, song and sound can heal the body.

This is definetly one of the best movies of all times. No effects, no show, just the opening of souls and minds of normal people. The music is is just a perfect frame for a perfect picture!

I saw this movie at a relative's house in Sweden and loved it. Very funny and fantastic music. Wonderful to see northern Sweden and a choir develop like that. Nominated for the foreign language film Oscar a year ago or so. Whenever it becomes available in the US, getting it. Worth seeing. Transfer this film to US format fast!

If this movie doesn't touch you, doesn't speak to you at all - well, you should see a shrink, as you are likely to be unhappy and emotionally stiff.

This story is not for analyzing but for breaking the analytical, stubborn mind and cutting through its cold, deceptive intellectualism to the center of one's being - Love.

Dry, analytical words are of no value. They can give the ego a sense of superiority but deprive one from experiencing beauty and joy.

It would be nice if one could let go of one's stupid intellectualism and dive into the sea of the Heart.

This is what this movie is about. It is not about analysing and about being philosophical, it is about shifting from living as a thinking being (i.e. being dead) to living as a listening being, where the abundance of Love is.

When we listen to classical music which overwhelms us we don't sit there analysing the notes or the rhythm or the age when it was written (well, normal people don't). We surrender to it. This movie is about surrender of that which keeps us away from happiness, it is about letting go of the cold intellect and waking up to Life.

Seeing this movie is like hearing a symphony that leaves you both empty and full. Empty of misery and full of what is beyond words and thoughts.

"As it is in Heaven" is a beautiful film that, although it will not receive a wide audience due to its Swedish language and English subtitles, deserves wide acclaim. It was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign language film. Such a nomination was appropriate. This is a great film.

In brief, the story covers the life an acclaimed orchestra composer who, for apparent health reasons, forgoes his carer and returns to the rural town of his birth. Here, he is asked to manage a small local church choir. His methods are unusual and he soon earns the ire of the local minister who is straight laced and wracked by guilt. His wife, however, yearns to break free and the choir provides the perfect opportunity. Other members of the choir carry their own burdens including a gifted woman who is in a brutal relationship with her husband. Again, the choir proves to provide the momentum for her to address her problems.

As a study of human relationships, "As it is in Heaven" is a tour de force. Do not let the language deter you from seeing this masterpiece. It is one of the best films of the year.

I saw this movie twice, the second time knowing exactly why I wanted to see it again. If you are trying to find out if you love someone or not, make sure that you see this movie. Such a simple but yet such a powerful definition of love it gives. Explains why we are where we are, and makes you part of the harmony. Is love as simple as teaching someone to bike? Think about it.

If there are no rules against it, this film should be renominated for Oscar.

I saw this movie in the theatre while I was studying abroad in Sweden and loved it. To be honest, I enjoyed this a lot more than any of the other oscar-nominated foreign films for 2005.

The story, while sometimes predictable and lacking complexity, is moving, touching and deeply personal. I also thought that it gave an accurate portrayal of everyday life in the cold regions of Northern Scandinavia.

The story centers around a famous Swedish composer who has become obscessed with his work to the point of physical breakdown. He is forced to leave his work and move back to the small village in northern Sweden where he grew up. When he arrives, you begin to meet and fall in love with all the wonderful people - well not all of them are so wonderful. The composer goes on to become the leader of the local church chior and uses his music to help lead some of the members through some troubeling experiences. I won't give anything away but you really need to see this movie.

Also, you should listen to the soundtrack. There are several very moving numbers - especially "Gabriellas sång", which is the theme song for the film.

I rented "As it is in Heaven" because it was a Best Foreign Language Oscar nominee and that has been a pretty reliable category for me. I admit that I waited a while to watch it because the plot seemed dubious and the movie runs a bit more than 2 hours in length. However, when I did finally sit down to watch it it didn't take long before I was totally engrossed in the film. The plot doesn't do "As it is in Heaven" justice. This is an outstanding film about confronting your fears and insecurities, improving your relationships with others and realizing your dreams. All the characters had something or other that needed confrontation which probably made them all the more acceptable to the audience. That short synopsis probably doesn't generate a lot of interest either. However, it is the manner in which all is revealed that gives "As it is in Heaven" its' impact. Indeed, the film actually wasn't long considering all it accomplished. The film's positive energy and the multitude of stories within the stories keeps us focussed throughout the movie. By the time "As it is in Heaven" ended I was emotionally spent and I realized that this was because of how well I was drawn into the lives of all the characters. "As it is in Heaven" is one of those rare motion pictures that succeeds on many levels.