Everlasting
Moments
by
Howard Schumann
The debate over whether photography can be considered
an art form has been going on since the early 19th century, yet one
thing is certain – to be successful, a photograph must combine
both technical excellence and inspiration. Like most artistic endeavors,
taking quality pictures can be a transforming experience. As photographer
Jan Phillips stated, “There is something about this work, something
healing about this search for the light.” This is definitely the
case for Maria (Maria Heiskanen), a beleaguered housewife who uses her
camera as a means of saving her soul and probably her sanity, in Jan
Troell’s lovely Everlasting Moments.
The film,
Sweden’s submission for an Oscar in 2008 for Best Foreign Film,
was adapted by Troell from a novel written by his wife Agneta that was
based on the life of a member of her family, Maria Larsson. The real
Maria’s life story and photographs are shown in the film, which
is brimming with strong characterizations and period detail from early
20th century Sweden. Maria must scrape out a living sewing and cleaning
to support a family of seven children while putting up with her philandering
and abusive husband Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt), who works sporadically
as a laborer when he is sober. Though he joins the local Temperance
Society, his will is not very strong and he repeatedly falls off the
wagon.
Up against
repeated financial problems, Maria offers to sell a camera that she
won in a lottery, but is persuaded by the camera shop owner Sebastian
Pedersen (Jesper Christensen) to first try and use it herself, though
he agrees to purchase it in the future. Buoyed by Sebastian telling
her that "not everyone is endowed with the gift of seeing,"
Maria begins to take photos under his guidance, and is astonished at
the wonders it performs. She begins to capture some of the everlasting
moments of the film’s title, using her gift of “seeing”
to supplement the family income. Slowly she develops her art while having
to constantly fend off Sigge’s jealous tantrums.
Maria takes
portraits of her neighbors at Christmas, a stunning image of a recently
deceased young girl lying on a table, a parade of Socialists seen from
her window, a street puppeteer, and an image of the shadow of a zeppelin
flying overhead. Sebastian encourages Maria to develop her skills, and
is ecstatic when one of her photographs is used by the local newspaper.
He offers her a job in the studio but she turns it down because of her
family obligations. Troell even implies that the photographer has fallen
in love with her but that conventions at the time do not permit its
expression.
The drama
depicts Maria’s courageous struggle to stay afloat financially
when her husband is either not working or is sent to prison for drunkenness
or threatening behavior towards his family. In spite of all logic and
seeming common sense, she stays with Sigfrid, influenced by her father’s
reminder of her sacred oath made during the wedding ceremony to stay
together, “till death do us part.” Daughter Maja (Callin
Öhrvall), the film’s narrator, helps the family considerably
by taking care of her younger siblings and by working as a maid for
a wealthy family, until she is assaulted by the woman’s brother.
Everlasting
Moments is rich in the quality of the performances, especially
that of Maria Heiskanen as the courageous woman who breaks through the
barriers of gender and class to experience life in a new way. Jesper
Christiansen is equally strong as the devoted friend who encourages
her to keep going when she wants to quit. Though Maria does not become
famous or wealthy from taking pictures, her art allows her to keep up
her spirits during her most difficult periods. Kudos are due to the
immense talent of 78 year-old director Jan Troell, noted for The
New Land and Hamsun, who, in Everlasting Moments,
infuses the dark shadows of a troubled life with ineffable beauty.
©2010 Howard Schumann
CineScene
