Nangijala is obviously set sometime in the Middle Ages, but when is it set on earth (before they die, in other words)?
There are some cars in the beginning of the movie, but it doesn't seem like they have Penicillin or other "modern" medicines, otherwise Karl could have lived.
Is it supposed to be the late 1800s?
I think late 1800 is likely.
shareMy guess is the 1930s.
Intelligence and purity.
I have to agree with Furienna above and say the 30's, or possibly 40's but that's complicated given that then there was also WWII going on in the outside world. However, the brothers are obviously part of a rather poor family living in the less fancy parts of Stockholm. And during the 30's tuberculosis (which is clearly what Karl suffers from although it is never explicitly mentioned) was still a rather common disease (and cause of death), especially among poorer people.
Just checked the first part on youtube and it feels like the beginning of the 20th century if you look at their clothes and car models. Probably around 1910.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocUqBmPtb4w