Patrik 1,5 (2008) Reviews

• Good film for a general audience

  johno-212009-02-03

  I saw this last month at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Based on a play by Michael Drucker and adapted for the screen by writer/director Ella Lemhagen this is the story of a gay couple living in white picket fence suburban neighborhood run by a homeowners association and populated by an all straight community. Goran Skoogh (Gustaf Skarsgard) and Sven Skoogh (Torkel Petersson)ave taken a singular surname, complete with wedding rings and a marriage but they want to adopt and raise an infant child to round out their marriage and live as a family. They have been put on a long waiting list to find a child they can raise from a baby and finally one becomes available. Or so it seems. A typing error that should have read Patrik, age 15 has been mistyped by the social service agency as Patrik 1,5. Believing they are about to bring into their lives an year and half old infant they are shocked to discover their baby is actually 15 years old, homophobic and with a history of delinquency and violence. Sven was once in a straight relationship and has an ex wife and a teenage daughter. He is hesitant of raising any child again let alone a ready-made troubled teenager. Goran wants a baby desperately but can see the good and discovers he can help bring out the good in Patrik (Thomas Ljungman). Nice cinematography from Marek Wiesner and production design from Lene Willumsen which give the film a rich textured look. It's a good cast withe some interesting peripheral characters. It's not an edgy film but is light and humorous with a some touches of drama without coming across as a message movie and it has an appeal to a general audience. I liked it and would give it an 8.5 and recommend it.

• Excellent film

  jimhinco2009-09-20

  I love the low-key quality of the film and the main character. As another reviewer wrote, the couple and Patrick are faced with numerous homophobic situations. Many aren't addressed simply because that's how life is as a gay man or woman. Best gay film I've seen in a long while. Very little sex and language but rather, incredibly deep characters and struggles in relationships. The main character, Goran, is spectacular. He is gentle and sincere while being incredibly strong in protecting his family. Amazing work. His partner, Sven, struggles with settling down, starting a family again (he has a 16 yr old daughter from his previous marriage), and living in a typical suburban neighborhood. The neighborhood dynamic is great. Each neighbor is really big on keeping their white picket fence front yards in amazing shape to outdo their neighbor. However, perfectly pruned front yards doesn't mean the family behind the door is doing as well. Amazing film.

• A beautifully crafted film. Emotional and heartfelt without being sappy

  sinnerofcinema2010-08-07

  This is one of those rare occurrences when you attend a cinematic experience that takes you through an array of emotions. And if the main couple weren't gay, you'd never know the difference by the heartaches, trials are tribulations they must endure. You are most likely to see this as just another couple struggling to adopt. However, in this case, this couple is launched into a whirlwind of surprises as they happily prepare to receive their newly adopted son. Things don't turn out quite right, and the story takes off from there. I must comment on the craftsmanship of the film because it seems like there was a lot of love and emotion put into it. The actors, the writing, the direction, the look, everything of about this film is so well done that it wallows in a very nostalgic mood where as an audience member you hope matters get resolved to the benefit of the main characters. Enjoy the ride for you will find it quite a delightful experience. Folks from all ages and walks of life can watch, learn and appreciate the beauty and contradicting curve-balls and pitfalls life throws at you. All generations can take something from this film that personally applies to a life experience. An exquisitely beautiful film not to be missed.

• Real emotions and well-acted

  klc-162009-05-27

  I do not want to concentrate too much on the story... it is relatively predictable - no surprises. Ordinarily I wouldn't give it such a high rating. Except ... it is so beautifully acted, especially by Gustaf Skarsgård as Goran, the the doctor, and Thomas Ljungman as the kid up for adoption...that it really does deserve a high rating. The situation is not completely realistic, in that I don't really see a gay couple deciding to live in an area that is so completely heterosexual and even a bit homophobic. I would have expected them to find a more mixed neighbourhood - but then again, not knowing Sweden, perhaps they are in a small town which doesn't really offer them many more choices? I also found the changes in Sven, the doctor's spouse(played by Torkel Petersson, to be a little too pat, both in his original negativism what makes him so extreme in his reactions?), and later on in his seemingly too-easily arrived-at acceptance. This problem in the script might be why Torkel doesn't impress us as much with his acting - his character seems to be less dense and more obviously driven by the writer's needs than his own. But all of this pales when the realism of the emotions is placed before you. These are people you DO care about - because they make you care. OK...the kid was perhaps too nice for someone who is supposed to be a petty criminal and all-around trouble-maker. But everyone can identify with the basics here. The need for family. The petty ignorance and discrimination of others. The problems of making a relationship work. The stupidities of officialdom. And the way people can suddenly work their way into your heart before you have even realized it. I hope that Thomas Ljungman and Gustaf Skarsgård end up making more films on an international level. They are wonderful actors (note the look in Ljungman's eyes when told the agency has finally found a family for him; I have NEVER seen mixed emotions more perfectly portrayed..., and considering the small output in Sweden, it would be a crime not to get this talent out into the world at large.

• Sarcastic, funny, emotional and Tom Ljungman steals the show

  saadgkhan2012-06-19

  Patrik 1,5 – CATCH IT (B+) Patrick 1.5 is a Swedish movie about Goran and Sven have been cleared for adoption and they have a possibility to adopt a Swedish orphan, Patrik 1,5. But when Patrik arrives he turns out to be someone else, not the little boy they were expecting. A comma had been misplaced, and in comes a 15-year-old homophobic with a criminal past. Patrik 1.5 is hilarious and movie at the same times. it take cares the sensitive issue with humor and the whole family dimension makes this movie more endearing. Gustaf Skarsgård brother of Alexander Skarsgård & Torkel Petersson as couple are great. But I have to say Tom Ljungman steals the show with witty humor and hidden emotions underneath the callous attitude. I personally enjoyed the movie a lot, so if you're into a family dram with sarcastic humor. This one is for you. Loved it!