UniversalMusicSweden YouTube Channel video: Edda Magnason - Sakta vi gå genom stan (Official Video). Uploaded July 13, 2013. http://youtu.be/Ni5a6Q8D16I
Monica Zetterlund was an exceptional artist with a unique place in Swedish life and pop culture, and this film shows how she went from an unknown to icon, yet even while living a fabulous life on stage, she led a turbulent private life away from the spotlight.
Central among many other co-stars of the film is the City of Stockholm itself, given that the name of the film is a direct reference to an an iconic Swedish song sung by and made famous by Zetterlund that's a variation of the 1930's hit, Walkin' My Baby Back Home.
With new Swedish lyrics by Beppe Wolgers, this old song became Slowly we walk through town -Sakta vi gå genom stan.
It's a song that every reasonably well-educated person in Sweden and environs knows and recognizes instantly, regardless of their age or political ideology or musical tastes.
It's that big.
Monica Zetterlund recording of Sakta vi gå genom stan, with lyrics at:
http://www.stockholmskallan.se/Soksida/Post/?nid=24283
Given such a name, this film doesn't pretend that it is not steadfastly in love with a certain place and je ne sais quoi attitude at a certain time in history, and that place and time was Stockholm in the early and mid-Sixties.
It's a film that like Woody Allen's best movies about New York City, is not not afraid to romanticize its beloved Stockholm, always one of the most beautiful cities in the world, then as now, which anyone who goes there sees and feels.
Even when like me, it's in the middle of January
It's part of why SO MANY PEOPLE who live there genuinely LOVE being part of it, and in a way that would surprise people living elsewhere, could NOT imagine ever wanting to live somewhere else, even New York, London or Paris.
They'd visit there on holiday, of course, but Stockholm is for them, and they have no intention of leaving.
In this film playing Monica Zetterlund, I can clearly see that singer/actress Edda Magnason can cause that involuntary "Julie Christie swoon" that comes over me sometimes that I've spoken about at various times and places, including this blog.
I can tell you without reservation that is NOT a feeling to be trifled with.
A star is leaving the plane. #MonicaZ pic.twitter.com/NRn69Sfk8S
— Peter Birro (@PeterBirro) June 12, 2013
And yes, before you ask or write me about it, I DO see that resemblance to American actress Alicia Silverstone, back before she went completely off-track and Hollywood wild child,
Don't pretend you don't see it, either. (See more at bottom.)
ABSvenskFilmindustri YouTube Channel video: Monica Z - official trailer (In Swedish)
Monica Zetterlund stars as Swedish singing/acting icon Edda Magnason; directed by Per Fly, written by Peter Birro. Uploaded May 15, 2013. http://youtu.be/H7qb41FaTXw
Monica Zetterlund died on May 12th, 2005 at the age of 67, as the result of injuries sustained in a fire in her Stockholm apartment. Confined to a wheelchair the last few years of her life by a severe case of scoliosis, she called the Fire Dept. to report the fire and urge them to hurry because the fire was rapidly spreading, but the first firemen arriving on the scene found her already dead, her wheelchair still next to her bed. So sad...
The film officially premieres in Sweden on September 13th. but it will be shown as part of the featured films at the 'Way Out West' film festival in Göteborg from August 8-10th.
In Swedish: http://www.wayoutwest.se/
In English: http://www.wayoutwest.se/en/
"Monica Z"-premiär på Way Out West: Den uppmärksammade filmen om Monica Zetterlund, "Monica Z", får premiär un... http://t.co/GKgFskbAdc
— DN Kultur (@DNKultur) July 24, 2013
Monica Z, one of the most anticipated movies this year will have Nordic premiere at #wowgbg! Info and trailer: http://t.co/DNjJ18pLpr
— Way Out West (@wayoutwestgbg) July 22, 2013
Official film website: http://www.sf.se/filmer/Monica-Z/
Edda's official website: http://www.eddamagnason.com/
Edda Magnason som Monica Zetterlund. Universal släpper video: Sakta vi gå genom stan med bilder från filmen. #MonicaZ http://t.co/WDZEFDMBFq
— Peter Birro (@PeterBirro) July 13, 2013
Premiär! Se Edda Magnason som Monica Zetterlund http://t.co/RcGXBG1u3c #aftonbladettv via @aftonbladet #eddamagnason #monicaz
— Universal Music SE (@UniversalSE) July 12, 2013
Buyers in Cannes keen on Peter Birro's and Per Fly's Waltz for Monica (MONICA Z) - Cineuropa http://t.co/bmI0nTXb3Z via @cineuropa
— Peter Birro (@PeterBirro) May 23, 2013
viasatsverige youTube Channel: Edda Magnason intervju Hans Wiklund. Uploaded May 20, 2013. http://youtu.be/7VLEyB94DEg
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ABC-TV video: Jimmy Kimmel's YouTube Challenge - I Silverstoned My Kid. Uploaded April 3, 2012. http://youtu.be/G4qAVY5RSR8
There was a certain moment in time in the 1990's where, with nothing more than a little black dress or something suitably chic and simple, Alicia Silverstone could, sometimes, stop a crowd cold with just a look.
And people would freeze.
Yes, though it's hard for some of you to believe it, a moment really did exist in our pop culture zeitgeist when it seemed that almost nothing could stop Alicia Silverstone from becoming one of the most popular and highly-paid actresses in the world, other than self-sabotage.
Silverstone didn't get that last big film contract of hers for nothing, because she really DID have genuine charisma, good looks and talent to spare, and was generally considered easy to work with on set, NOT a young diva.
But then for reasons known largely to her, she made some bad decisions, seemed to stop caring quite so much or trying so hard -and audiences suddenly felt let down by her.
It's not called Show Business for nothing.
It's a business, not a place for hobbyists or people indulging whims or people going thru a "phase."
Whether Alicia Silverstone will ever decide to take advantage of her talent and natural likeability in the future again and have a Second Act in Hollywood is a decision known only to her.
