Livet är en schlager
Encyclopedia
Livet är en schlager is a Swedish film released in 2000, written by Jonas Gardell
and written by his usual directing partner Susanne Bier
. The film features cameo appearances by many Swedish singers. The film was produced by Nordisk Film
and Sveriges Television
in association with Sonet Film
and TV2 Denmark.
- so much so, that her house is decorated with posters of her idols, and she has named her children after Swedish Eurovision performers: Kikki
, Anna Book
, Lena PH
and Carola
. Her partner Bosse is unemployed, and she is left to feed the family. Her brother, Candy, is a transvestite and an AIDS
-sufferer who designs clothes. David, Mona's employer, a cerebral palsy
-sufferer, is a proficient songwriter however, and composes a song which Mona steals and sends a demo of (with her own lyrics) into Melodifestivalen
, the Swedish heats for the Eurovision contest. Much to Mona's delight, the song qualifies for the finals. Mona's new-found fame takes her to unexpected places, including a TV interview, and an invitation to lunch at Berns. Throughout, the film, though, Mona is torn as to whether she should reveal that she was not in fact the only writer of her song, and thus risk losing the public's support.
, "I Believe in Miracles" performed by Lena Philipsson
and "Kärleksikonen" performed by Regina Lund
.
The film also features the song "Aldrig ska jag sluta älska dig", originally performed by Helena Bergström
, which was later released by Gardell, and "Handen på hjärtat
" performed by Sofia Källgren
. "Handen på hjärtat" was released on the soundtrack but was performed by Björn Kjellman
feat. Salome.
Jonas Gardell
Jonas Gardell, born 2 November 1963 in Enebyberg, Stockholm County, is a Swedish novelist, playwright, screenwriter and comedian. He is the brother of religion scholar Mattias Gardell....
and written by his usual directing partner Susanne Bier
Susanne Bier
Susanne Bier is a Danish film director best known for her feature films Brothers, After the Wedding and the Academy-Award-winning In a Better World.-Life and work:Susanne Bier was born to Jewish parents in Copenhagen, Denmark...
. The film features cameo appearances by many Swedish singers. The film was produced by Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film , established in Denmark in 1906 by Danish filmmaker Ole Olsen, is the oldest continuously operating film studio in the world. Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory" but soon changed it to the Nordisk Film Kompagni...
and Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
in association with Sonet Film
Sonet Film
Sonet Film is a Swedish film production company.Established in 1984, Sonet Film is one of Scandinavia's leading film companies and distributors of cinema. Since 1997 it is owned by the Sweden-based media company Bonnier....
and TV2 Denmark.
Plot
The film is based around the life of Mona Berglund, a mother-of-four obsessed with the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
- so much so, that her house is decorated with posters of her idols, and she has named her children after Swedish Eurovision performers: Kikki
Kikki Danielsson
Ann-Kristin "Kikki" Danielsson is a Swedish country, dansband and pop singer. Sometimes, she also plays the accordion and she has also written some lyrics. She is also famous for yodeling in some songs. Kikki Danielsson gained her largest popularity in the Nordic region from the late 1970s until...
, Anna Book
Anna Book
Anna Book is a Swedish pop singer. She participated in Let's Dance, the Swedish version of Dancing With The Stars, in 2006 and finished in 2nd place....
, Lena PH
Lena Philipsson
Maria Magdalena "Lena" Philipsson is a Swedish singer and media personality.-Career:...
and Carola
Carola Häggkvist
Carola Maria Häggkvist , better known as simply Carola, is a Swedish singer and occasional songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s, and has released albums ranging from pop and disco to hymns and folk music...
. Her partner Bosse is unemployed, and she is left to feed the family. Her brother, Candy, is a transvestite and an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-sufferer who designs clothes. David, Mona's employer, a cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
-sufferer, is a proficient songwriter however, and composes a song which Mona steals and sends a demo of (with her own lyrics) into Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen is an annual music competition organised by Swedish public broadcasters Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio . It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almost every year since 1959...
, the Swedish heats for the Eurovision contest. Much to Mona's delight, the song qualifies for the finals. Mona's new-found fame takes her to unexpected places, including a TV interview, and an invitation to lunch at Berns. Throughout, the film, though, Mona is torn as to whether she should reveal that she was not in fact the only writer of her song, and thus risk losing the public's support.
Music
The film features several songs by well-known Swedish singers, such as "If Life Was a Song", performed by Carola HäggkvistCarola Häggkvist
Carola Maria Häggkvist , better known as simply Carola, is a Swedish singer and occasional songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s, and has released albums ranging from pop and disco to hymns and folk music...
, "I Believe in Miracles" performed by Lena Philipsson
Lena Philipsson
Maria Magdalena "Lena" Philipsson is a Swedish singer and media personality.-Career:...
and "Kärleksikonen" performed by Regina Lund
Regina Lund
Regina Charlotta Theodora Lund is a Swedish actress and singer. She is the daughter of actress Sonja Lund. Regina is no longer in a relationship with the Swedish rock star Joakim Thåström. She is frequently seen in Swedish magazines with new men by her side. The last in the row is an American...
.
The film also features the song "Aldrig ska jag sluta älska dig", originally performed by Helena Bergström
Helena Bergström
Helena Bergström is a Swedish actress.The granddaughter of legendary Swedish actor Olof Widgren and the daughter of Hans Bergström and Kerstin Widgren . Bergström is married to Colin Nutley and is known for playing the female lead in many of his films...
, which was later released by Gardell, and "Handen på hjärtat
Handen på hjärtat
"Handen på hjärtat" is a Swedish song by Lasse Holm and Ingela Forsman performed by Sofia Källgren in Melodifestivalen 1990 and finished in 4th place. Källgren was backed up by three dancers wearing partially furry suits....
" performed by Sofia Källgren
Sofia Källgren
Anna Sofia Helena Källgren, known as Sofia Källgren , is a Swedish singer. She sings in two other languages, English and Mandarin Chinese, in addition to in Swedish....
. "Handen på hjärtat" was released on the soundtrack but was performed by Björn Kjellman
Björn Kjellman
John Björn Sture Kjellman , is a Swedish actor and singer. He has had roles in Swedish movies like Klassfesten and Livet är en schlager, in which he plays a Melodifestivalen-obsessed transsexual who is brother to Helena Bergström's character, who takes part in the Swedish Melodifestivalen in the...
feat. Salome.
Cast and characters
- Helena BergströmHelena BergströmHelena Bergström is a Swedish actress.The granddaughter of legendary Swedish actor Olof Widgren and the daughter of Hans Bergström and Kerstin Widgren . Bergström is married to Colin Nutley and is known for playing the female lead in many of his films...
as Mona - Jonas KarlssonJonas KarlssonSven Bert Jonas Karlsson is an Swedish actor and author.Karlsson was born in Södertälje. He won a Guldbagge-Award for Best Actor in 2004 for the movie Details. He published his first book, a collection of short stories, in 2007....
as David - Björn KjellmanBjörn KjellmanJohn Björn Sture Kjellman , is a Swedish actor and singer. He has had roles in Swedish movies like Klassfesten and Livet är en schlager, in which he plays a Melodifestivalen-obsessed transsexual who is brother to Helena Bergström's character, who takes part in the Swedish Melodifestivalen in the...
as Candy - Thomas HanzonThomas HanzonThomas Hanzon , is a Swedish actor and stage actor at The Royal Dramatic Teather in Stockholm.Worked with Ingemar Bergman in both movies and on stage. Born in 1962 in Stockholm, Sweden...
as Bosse - Sissela KyleSissela KyleSissela Maria Kyle is a Swedish actress and comedian.Kyle is the second cousin of the British singer Yusuf Islam -Filmography:* 1983 - Limpan* 1985 - Lösa förbindelser...
as Woman at the employment office - Katarina EwerlöfKatarina EwerlöfKatarina Ewerlöf is a Swedish actress born 28 December 1959 and who was educated at the theater university in Stockholm scene school, and has worked at Royal Dramatic Theatre. Ewerlöf worked during many years in the 1970s and 80s away from public attention in theatres, and had her first big hit as...
as Moa, project manager - Regina LundRegina LundRegina Charlotta Theodora Lund is a Swedish actress and singer. She is the daughter of actress Sonja Lund. Regina is no longer in a relationship with the Swedish rock star Joakim Thåström. She is frequently seen in Swedish magazines with new men by her side. The last in the row is an American...
as Sabina - Douglas Johansson as Hairdresser
- Jessica Zandén as Woman at the café
- Frida HallgrenFrida HallgrenFrida Sophia Hallgren is a Swedish actress, internationally known from As It Is in Heaven.After finishing her degree, Frida attended the theater university in Malmö. This training was connected to a practical course at the city theater of Gothenburg. Thereafter Frida received several theater roles...
as TV engineer