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Lilja 4-ever

7.5

12,095

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Original title

Lilja 4-ever

Year

2002

Running time

109 min.

Country

Sweden

Director

Lukas Moodysson

Screenwriter

Lukas Moodysson

Cast

Music

Nathan Larson

Cinematography

Ulf Brantas

Producer

Co-production Sweden-Denmark;

Memfis Film

Genre

Drama | Prostitution. Teen/coming-of-age. Drugs. Social Drama. Sexual Abuse

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Lilya lives in a poor and dreary suburb somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Her mother has moved to the States with a new man and Lilya is waiting to be sent for. When no letters or money arrive from her mother, it becomes obvious that Lilya has been abandoned. She is forced to move into a tiny, run-down flat with no electricity or heating. Heartbroken and with no money, Lilya's situation becomes desperate. Her only friend is eleven-year-old Volodya, who is sometimes allowed to sleep on her sofa. They hang out together, dreaming of a better life. Hope arrives when Lilya falls in love with Andrei. He asks her to follow him to Sweden to start a new life. Little Volodya is jealous and suspicious, but Lilya packs her things. Suddenly, she's sitting on a plane bound for Sweden, not knowing what will happen next...

Rankings Position

#17 Best Swedish Movies
#27 Best Nordic Countries Films
#116 Best Movies of the 21st century

Awards: 2003: Independent Spirit Awards: Nominada a Best Foreign Film

2002: Guldbagge Awards (Sweden): Best Film, Direction, Actress, Screenplay, Cinematography

2002: Gijon Film Festival: Best Film & Best Actress (Oksana Akinshina)

2002: European Film Awards: 2 Nominations including Best Film

2002: Gijón Film Festival: 2 awards.

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Critics' reviews

"Great, heartbreaking (...) For all its explictness, 'Lilya 4-Ever' never feels exploitative."

Stephen Holden: The New York Times
"A vivisectional experiment in horror and despair (...) A grown master's mature masterpiece (...) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
"'Lilya 4-Ever' is undeniably depressing, but its bravery, commitment and depth mark its brilliance (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Michael Hayden: Empire
"While it makes for strong and mostly compelling material, it lacks not only the humour but also some of the subtlety and perceptiveness of the director's first two outings."

Lee Marshall: Screendaily
"'Lilya 4-Ever' provides a human face for a story that has become familiar in the newspaper (...) has the directness and clarity of a documentary, but allows itself touches of tenderness and grief (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"[Moodysson] dives into the soul of a 16-year-old Estonian girl and tears you apart."

Ty Burr: Boston Globe
"What 'Lilja 4-Ever' has in common with the greatest films is its spiritual transcendence. Don't miss it."

Andrew Sarris: The New York Observer
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Ranking Lists Position

8 My Favorite Swedish Movies (44)
26 My Top 10 Movies from 2002 (120)
54 Little Gems: Little Known Movies I've Discovered (59)

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Lilja 4-ever

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