''Elvira Madigan'' is a 1967 Swedish film directed by Bo Widerberg, based on the tragedy of the Danish Slackwire, slackrope dancer Elvira Madigan, Hedvig Jensen (born 1867), working under the stage name of Elvira Madigan at her stepfather's travelling circus, who runs away with the Swedish nobleman lieutenant Sixten Sparre (born 1854).

Plot

Elvira Madigan and Sixten Sparre are together in the Danish countryside, having run away together and abandoned their past lives. Sparre has renounced the military and now claims to be "on the women's side." Elvira, who was the main attraction at her circus, has got her identity back and starts to refer to herself with her real name Hedvig. A friend from Sparre's regiment tries to persuade him to come back, but fails. They have no money or future and try to fish and earn money the best they can. Hedvig sells a picture of herself drawn by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Toulouse-Lautrec and is paid to entertain a party with her dancing. Eventually, Sparre shot her to death and then took his own life.

Cast

* Pia Degermark - Hedvig Jensen, "Elvira Madigan" * Thommy Berggren - Lt. Sixten Sparre * Lennart Malmer - Kristoffer * Cleo Jensen - Cleo * Yvonne Ingdal - Elvira Madigan's voice

Soundtrack

The soundtrack features Géza Anda playing the Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 (Mozart), Piano Concerto No. 21 in C by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart, which is now sometimes referred to as the "Elvira Madigan" Concerto, as well as Antonio Vivaldi, Vivaldi's ''The Four Seasons (Vivaldi), Four Seasons''. Anda's Deutsche Grammophon LP of Concerto No. 21 was re-issued with a cover showing Pia Degermark in costume in a still from the film.

Awards and nominations

* 22nd British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA Awards ** Best Cinematography (Persson, nominated) ** Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (Degermark, nominated) * 1967 Cannes Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival ** Best Actress (Degermark, won) ** Golden Palm (Widerberg, nominated) * 25th Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Awards ** Best Foreign-Language Foreign Film (nominated) ** Most Promising Newcomer - Female (Degermark, nominated) * National Board of Review Awards 1967, National Board of Review ** Best Foreign Language Film (won)

Critical responses

According to the ''Time Out (company), Time Out Film Guide'': "Candidate for the prettiest pic ever award. ... you may be enchanted by it if you don't laugh yourself sick." Describing it as breathing the "hippie mid-sixties", Edgardo Cozarinsky writes: "Though the lovers are there as early instances of drop-outs, and several contemporary readings effortlessly emerge, Widerberg's real concern is with the sensuous presence of cream and berry juice on lips and fingertips". For Widerberg, "this affirmation in the face of death carries ... the weight of a modest but combative ideological point".

References

External links

* *
''Chicago Sun-Times'' review
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1967 drama films 1967 films Films directed by Bo Widerberg 1960s Swedish-language films Films about suicide Swedish drama films 1960s Swedish films