Adalen 31

1969 [SWEDISH]

Drama / History / Romance

2
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 88% · 8 reviews
IMDb Rating 7.1/10 10 1918 1.9K

Director

Bo Widerberg Photo
Bo Widerberg

Top cast

Olle Björling Photo
Olle Björling as En strejkbrytare
Sölve Forssell Photo
Sölve Forssell as En alkoholiserad arbetare
Hedvig Johansson Photo
Hedvig Johansson as Elin, Nisses mor
Martin Fahlén Photo
Martin Fahlén as Kapten Mesterton
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.03 GB
1280*534
Swedish 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 54 min
Seeds 1
1.91 GB
1920*802
Swedish 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 54 min
Seeds 4

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by chriswhaskell 7 / 10

Protest as art

This is an interesting case of a mediocre movie being elevated by finding a fascinating story and telling the hell out of it.This was my second Widerberg film, along with Man on the Roof. In both movies he took very powerful source material, so it is clear he has a good eye for what will translate to the screen. In Roof, he gives an interpretation of the seventh Martin Beck novel (The Abominable Man) which is in the running for the best police procedural series of books ever written. Highly recommend that movie, by the way, for anyone who likes New Hollywood police procedurals.But he's not only a 70s crime director, for Ådalen 31 Widerberg puts on his political bio hat and introduces us to the labor struggles of 1930s Sweden. He connects to the psyche of a nation only 30 years removed from their own revolution, and recounts the story of the heroes that helped shape their own future. Much like what Barbara Kopple was trying to show in Harlan County, USA. They are both movies about honest people getting taken advantage of by big companies and being disappointed when they finally get government intervention.Ådalen is a story of lost dreams, of change, of maturity, and of progress. We see the story of a nation as told through one village. The villagers are on strike! The families are suffering, but the workers need to fight for their basic rights and let the owners know to take better care of the equipment and the people. The only issue is the factory has a major shipment to get to the Americans and they are desperate to get the product made and out the door. Stress.Systems and pressures collide as a small group of factory workers stands up for what is right even as they face continuous consequences. But the struggle is often the path, and the pain is often the fastest way to the light. We know when we've been pushed too far, that is part of being human. And within any struggle we play a role. Widerberg understands this dynamic, and makes this film as if he had been in the fight himself.He also makes this film look beautiful. There are moments that look like they could be in a Terry Malick film. Truly beautiful composition and textures to the images. Widerberg clearly knows how to handle the moving image, and knows how to find powerful source material. The film had a few too many loose ends and untouched logical leaps for my taste and left me wanting the script to be more developed. It's a minor gripe, however, and a personal one for me as I struggle with biopics. But don't let that dissuade you from giving this a chance. It's a well made picture and at times a strikingly beautiful one.
Reviewed by Movie-Man

Almost perfect

Now this is something you don't see every day! Bo Widerbergs style makes this movie almost documentary in a way. That suits this movie since it's based on a true event.The story is about a small town where the workers go out on strike. The conflict between workers and the factory owners and even between the workers themselves. Seems very simple but oh so good! Very good characters and dialogue! See it if you have the chance!9/10 Movie-Man
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