Everlasting Moments

Play trailer

Everlasting Moments

2009

2h 11m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In Sweden in the early 1900s, "Everlasting Moments" chronicles the life of Maria Lawson (Maria Heiskanen), an immigrant from Finland who uses a camera she wins in a lottery to document her life. Maria works with her camera to support her children while tolerating frequent abuse from Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt), her womanizing and alcoholic husband. Maria's daughter Maja, who vividly presents her mother's strength and dignity in the face of considerable hardship, narrates the film.

Critics Consensus

Elegant and intimate, Everlasting Moments moves at the deliberate and gentle pace of a classical European period drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/29/2018

One of those films in which nothing very much happens, but is full of character and incident all the same. It's a life - just a life - but Maria is so empathetic and portrayed with such love that we are as immersed in that life as she is.

Go to Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

08/11/2010

3/5

Feels a little repetitive and predictable in its depiction of the ordinary and the domestic. But there's something stubborn and gritty about Heiskanen's performance.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Cole

Globe and Mail

06/12/2009

3/4

What makes the photographer's story so compelling is that her life's work actually does come alive onscreen.

Go to Full Review

Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

01/27/2020

Where the film is most satisfying is in an artfulness that operates beyond words.

Go to Full Review

Brandy McDonnell

The Oklahoman

08/08/2018

3.5/4

Excellent performances, canny cinematography and Troell's steady direction make Everlasting Moments worth experiencing.

Go to Full Review

Martha Polk

MUBI

12/13/2017

Maria's interactions with film remind us of the most basic echelons of the filmic miracle-the miracles of reflection, projection, of light and seeing-and invite us into the excitement they hold.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Nancy W

@Nancy1951 Jan 6

One of those rare movies that is layered without being self-conscious. The images are gorgeous, the acting superbly understated, all scaffolded by a simple yet accessible story.

See more

Georgan G

@RT98616417 10/01/2023

A delightful picture about class, social change, family, art & maybe love. The acting is terrific and this Swedish drama keeps you interested. Nothing bad to say about about it, at all.

See more

07/14/2021

A sensitive, moving portrait of a hard life. Fittingly, and perhaps intentionally considering its subject, the tint and texture of this film evoke a kind of distant nostalgia and sadness that you only get when you look at old photographs

See more

08/07/2018

A beautifully told story. Love, love, love!

See more

06/23/2016

This is a movie rooted in excellent performances, subtle visual metaphors and a lovely soundtrack. So worth seeing for all of these reasons. It's also depressing as bleep, so be sure to be prepared to feel like crap after watching it, especially armed with the knowledge that it's based on a true story.

See more

10/06/2015

This is one of the most beautiful Swedish movies I have ever seen like "Saraband". "Not every one could see and hear like few gifted people". This is the story of a lady who happened to discover her true passion and identity by accident which is photography. Photography lovers will cherish this movie. There are lot of other issues are going on this film like capitalism and socialism, domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, illicit romance, prostitution..you name it. Don't miss it.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jan Troell

Director

Maria Heiskanen

Maria Larsson

Mikael Persbrandt

Sigfrid Larsson

Jesper Christensen

Sebastian Pedersen

Emil Jensen

Englund

Ghita Nørby

Miss Fagerdal

In a Better World

77%

86%

In a Better World

Watchlist

The Stone Angel

46%

58%

The Stone Angel

Watchlist

Prayers for Bobby

73%

86%

Prayers for Bobby

Watchlist

Incendies

91%

92%

Incendies

Watchlist

I've Loved You So Long

89%

85%

I've Loved You So Long

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Academy Names Nine Foreign Film Finalists

View more photos

Synopsis

In Sweden in the early 1900s, "Everlasting Moments" chronicles the life of Maria Lawson (Maria Heiskanen), an immigrant from Finland who uses a camera she wins in a lottery to document her life. Maria works with her camera to support her children while tolerating frequent abuse from Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt), her womanizing and alcoholic husband. Maria's daughter Maja, who vividly presents her mother's strength and dignity in the face of considerable hardship, narrates the film.

Director: Jan Troell
Producer: Tero Kaukomaa, Christer Nilson, Thomas Stenderup
Screenwriter: Niklas Rådström, Jan Troell, Agneta Ulfsäter-Troell
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Final Cut Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Finnish
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $606.1K
Runtime: 2h 11m