Swedish director Ian Truel’s 2008 film “Unforgettable Moments” is based on the true story of a simple woman from a poor family who became a photographer. The narrative is conducted on behalf of her eldest daughter Maya, a distant relative of the director’s wife, whose memories formed the basis of the plot of the film. The case takes place in the early 20th century.
Once Maria (Maria Hyskanen) won a camera in the lottery, her fiancé Siegfried (Michael Persbrandt) said that the camera belongs to him because he bought the lottery ticket, but Maria categorically refused to give him the camera, saying that if he wanted to get it, he would need to marry her, which he did. Several years have passed, everyone has long forgotten about the camera, the family has four children, the husband is interrupted by casual earnings, the wife is engaged in raising children and household. At the same time, he also likes to abuse alcohol and is prone to violence, not averse to hitting on women.
One day Maria accidentally stumbles upon a camera in her belongings, she goes to Sebastian Pedersen's studio to find out how much the camera costs to sell it. Pedersen is kind of cute about this woman, he takes pictures of her and suggests that she come the next day to see what the machine can do. She comes, the result surprised and delighted, then Pedersen gives her spare photographic plates and reagents for manifestation, and also leaves the camera to her, saying that as a pledge. And then her passion begins, which at first she quite reasonably hides from her husband. Then there are many different events, the PMV begins, her husband is even called into the army, they are very poor, Maria is trying to earn money for food, but her passion is no-no and makes itself known. Everything is not going well, the husband returns from the army, sometimes again falls into drunkenness and revelry, however, forcing his wife to have sex, and now they have seven children, he gives freedom also to his hands, as a result of which he somehow finds himself in prison after almost stabbing his wife. The children hope that now she will leave her husband, but this time she does not. After prison, however, he seems to come to his senses and things will go well, the family will finally cease to need, Maria continues to slowly engage in photography, but after all the worldly troubles, she will not live long. After the death of her mother, after a while, Maya will find an unmanifested record in the camera, it will be a photo of her mother, her self-portrait, which she took shortly before her death. And the daughter will never cease to wonder why the mother did not leave her father, maybe it was love.
I liked the film, I generally love Scandinavian films, it is shot very well, however, it may seem somewhat protracted to some, and Truel picked up the actors so much that Finca Maria is played by Finnish actress Haiskanen, Dane Pedersen is played by Dane Kristensen, Swede Siegfried is played by Swedish Persbrandt, largely because of him I began to watch this film, he is a good actor, which he once again proved this by his very controversial way. So I won’t recommend it, decide for yourself.