MovieChat Forums > Bröderna Lejonhjärta (1977) Discussion > What may kids see or not see on TV?

What may kids see or not see on TV?

posted 19 years ago by boatsman
23 replies | jump to latest

I thought it was very amusing reading the different user comments of "Bröderna Lejonhjärta". Of course, most people who have seen this film are Swedish by nationality and (as mentioned before) Swedish people have a very special connection to this film (especially those born in the 60's and 70's) and not at least to the author of the book, the late Astrid Lindgren. I haven't met one single swede who thinks this is a bad movie.

More interesting then, was to read the comments from the other nationalities. I was especially intrigued by a remark from a person from the other side of the Atlantic (an American, that is). First of all, he/she didn't like the movie (rating it 2/10), something I disagree with - but everybody is entitled an opinion. Most of all, though, he/she starts out with saying it's not suitable for children (from an "North American" perspective) because it isn't cheerful, some boys have there clothes off when they're taking a bath (doh?) and people die in the movie.

Isn't it about time that American children also get to know what life is about and (in this particular case) in a gentle way let them know that there also is something called death? I'm convinced that children gets a far better understanding of reality from movies like this than from all the crap (movie-violence, computergames, wrestling, etc.) children are exposed to in the US...

[–] boris-kleimeyer 19 years ago

so! i'm boris, 32j, dipl. päd. from germany.

thanks for your words of truth on the "big.dinosaur" - comment( big.dinosaur..is exactly what he is- a tyrannosaurus-character) from north america.

you kept calm - but please, come on, dont try to take people like that serious and start a new topic with those ill ideas of that *beep* up macho....

that was no discussion on an epic film.

...it's funny-, in the moment while clicking on this messageboard, i expected some americans spoiling on this great film.

it seems, that people like big.dinosaur cant live without heroes, and the hero has(!) to be a static winning guy everytime, nothing else is allowed.

remember- he comes from a country where every tenth child is forced to take psychopharmaca (ordered from the parents-taken like the parents), and big.dinosaur tries to value an epic film bad for naked children..
typical macho-ill, doublemoralic, egomanic, neurotic, gunslingering with his phallus- the worst kind of moral educator/psychologist from hell.

so. too long spoken of big.dinosaur :-) (cant help laughing, when i imagine a character like his- sitting, eating like a bullfrog in his chair, watching wrestling all the day..and then he's confronted with real, emotional heroes in a swedish film... that was hard to take..:-))

to your question of "what may kids see on tv"-

sensibly watching society (and american bad influences like the psychomarket), watching social developments and working in social-distorted families, i know, why the drug abuse of children in sweden is no problem-

cause the parents are honest with their childs and they trust them being self-competent in handling tabu-themes like death, loss, and big.dinosaurs (!) special one -"love"

best wishes ,
boris

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] mastermasken 19 years ago

It is of course true that everyone's entitled to an opinion Travis.

But in this case, I don't think - and sincerely hope - that the comment wasn't bred by nationality, but rather narrow-mindness, lack of perspective and plain stupidness. Cause seriously, Big Dinosaur's comments really showed nothing but this.

Bröderna Lejonhjärta is most seriously a movie for children, written by one of the world's most famous writers of childrens stories. I most sincerely hope that Big Dinosaur won't give his own children such a lack of perspective and disrespect for different ideas and views of the world.

[–] pevaskjeva 19 years ago

This movie went on Norwegian Children's hour several times when I was a kid, and we recorded it on video as well, so I've seen it hundreds of times, probably. I really love this film, along with the Pippi-films, the Emil-films, Ronja Röverdotter, and other Astrid Lindgren films made in the 70s.

That this American dismiss it as not suitable for children because it's deaing with death is just silly. There's no point in keeping from your child that people die, if you try it, they will only be confused later on in life.

That children bathe naked is perfectly normal, at least here in Scandinavia and at least in the 70s, even noticing it as something unnatural is absurd.

<i>Isn't it about time that American children also get to know what life is about and (in this particular case) in a gentle way let them that there also is something called death? I'm convinced that children gets a far better understanding of reality from movies like this than from all the crap (movie-violence, computergames, wrestling, etc.) children are exposed to in the US...</i>
Agreed.

[–] bigdinosaur 19 years ago

Seemed to have touched a nerve here. Certainly not intentionally.

Actually, I had forgotten I left a review for this movie and returned to find...this!

To Boris: You should not take a person's review to a personal level. As a reviewer my comments are directed to the majority of North American viewers' viewpoints. Most U.S. parents don't care for their children to watch nudity, violence, depression, etc. I do understand that this is normal in other places; and personally, I don't find anything wrong with it either. My personal views are not necessarily those found in my reviews!

BTW: I HATE wrestling!

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"Isn't it about time that American children also get to know what life is about and (in this particular case) in a gentle way let them that there also is something called death? I'm convinced that children gets a far better understanding of reality from movies like this than from all the crap (movie-violence, computergames, wrestling, etc.) children are exposed to in the US..."

To the author of above comment: Actually, I personally agree with you. Now getting the majority of American viewers to agree is another matter totally.

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To Travis: You certainly seem to have a head on your shoulders. And you are right about technical analysis sometimes ruining enjoyment of a movie. That could have been a factor in this case. Although I still feel production values for this movie were extremely poor. You have to realise that in America we are used to a high technical expertise in movie-making...albeit at the cost of uniqueness, decent plots, and characterisation.

And BTW: I was raised in BC, hence the British spelling & such.

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To sum this up: My review stands as written. I won't change it because someone disagrees. I'm not even close to being the perfect reviewer. And what I write is not always my personal feeling (since I don't always agree with the majority of my society). However, I do not feel it is warranted to attack me personally as Boris did; Although I'm sure Boris felt irritated that someone would degrade something he valued. I was unaware that this movie was an enactment of Swedish folklore held dear to Swedes. But then again my review was directed to Americans.

Perhaps this movie can be remade someday as it seems to be a very popular story for Scandinavian society. And possibly I will get a chance to review a remake...with better results!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Ting_13 19 years ago

About the movie dealing with death...

Here in Sweden this book can be found at (as far as I know) every single children's hospital ward. It has been known to have an amazing effect on sick children. It is very often read to seriously ill children who worry about death, and the result seems to always be the same. After they've heard the story the children are no longer afraid of dying. There are of course instances where it does not work, but for a vast majority it does cure fear of dying. To me THAT is why it is in every single way a children's novel, and a children's film. It does not ignore the darker sides of life but deals with them in a way that children can understand and relate to. And in the end it does say that not even death is entirely bad, there is always hope.

And as for the nudity... Almost every Swedish film includes nudity although very seldom in sex scenes. Nudity is a much more natural thing here than it is in many other countries and we don't always see a naked body as a sexual thing.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] mis-5 18 years ago

Hmm... Personally I'm amazed how it's possible to be a normally emotionally fully functional person and still not get touched by at least the book. But maybe people growing up today are too emotianally numb to appreciate a story where young boys speak freely of fear and feelings in comparison to diverging images of what it means being brave.

I've heard many youngsters( being in my 30's myself I think I 'm entitled to speak of younger people as youngsters :) )commenting Karl's character from a merely embarrassed point of view - they simply can't handle his outspoken honesty about his fears. And comments on his brave brother Jonathan are merely: He's a chicken because he doesn't want to kill anybody ( referring to his pacifist attitudes regarding the liberation war) and he's also stupid because he saves one of Tengils soldiers ( a most important episode in the book that sadly never got into the movie, I guess merely because the characters were naked when it happened since they were in the middle of bathing in the river. ) Anyway:

When Karl later asks Jonathan if saving the life of a Tengil soldier, Pärk, was such a good idea after all, Jonathan again refers to a sentence that has come up many times in the story: that there are things in the world that one HAS to do, if one wants to be a human and not just a little piece of crap. Saving other lives from death, no matter whos life it is, is one of those things. Karl then reminds his brother that he is a wanted lawless and what if the Tengil soldier had reckognised him and captured him... Jonathans answer is:

-Then he would have captured a Lionheart and not a little piece of crap.

These seems to be values that obviously are too complicated to understand for those who seem to dismiss this story beacuse of its lack of cool oneliners, spleattering and because of its natural and respectful attitude to childrens emotins, to life and death.

I think that those who didn't like the story - try to read the book again and ask yourselves what you're missing in it and why your missing it. I've myself learned to re-evaluate a lot of films, books and music that I didn't think I like.

Happy landings. Love.
"Of course it's Pete - look at him!"

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] mis-5 18 years ago

Travis!
I think you're absolutely right about one thing: The book IS a lot - a LOT - better than the movie, but that is the case with all , however good, efforts to turn Astrid Lindgrens books into film, in spite of the mostly careful work to follow the books properly. There is nothing that can beat her very special way of telling a story, her language, her sensibility and her "touch". She's truly, truly great. Or was. The lady passed away in January 2002 having reached the honorable age of 94 I think. Her funeral was equal to that of a statesman or a queen - the whole country was in greef. As the ceremony began the main theme from the film "Lionheart brothers" was played on the church organ... that was quite moving indeed.

"Of course it's Pete - look at him!"

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] furienna 18 years ago

As the ceremony began the main theme from the film "Lionheart brothers" was played on the church organ... that was quite moving indeed.
Oh yeah, it was terribly touching. That song in a church. I'll never forget it.

[–] hazgarn 17 years ago

I just wanted to supply a different 'American' perspective on this movie. I haven't got a clue where my parents got the copy of this movie we had as kids, but I absolutely loved it.

[–] monsterkatt 15 years ago

In fact, not accepting childrens nudity (and adults) as natural might increase the taboo, wich in my theory might in fact be a self-feeding machine for breeding paedophilia or other sorts of behaviour, depending on the person, severity and when it starts.

Personally I've been tainted abit by the american type of paranoia regarding this. When at a beach I sometimes find myself actively NOT looking at children, not being able to relax completely, in the case that someone might think I'm a paedophiliac.
I know I'm not, without vehemently proclaiming my innocence :P I find children completely asexual or whatever the word is, but the mere thought of someone else thinking I might be has started to scare me enough to this behaviour. Again, I can't write this without saying, I'm not looking at children at beaches. That's not the point.

Even when meeting children I'm cautious that someone might think I have suspicious motives. This is ironic due to children being such an amazing source of creativity, honesty and joy for everyone that meets them. When a child runs up to me, normally when I was younger I would say hi and talk to him or her or perhaps wave, nowadays with the paranoia regarding paedophilia it's easier and safer just to walk on.

To sum up. Children being natural is perfectly normal. You don't see children being ashamed of themselves do you? Perhaps adults should learn something from this.

If you enjoyed any of Alexander Nevsky's titles my database also recommends:
You get lobotimized

[–] Lillstenis 12 years ago

What's even more funny Bigdinosaur is that you're a *beep* reviewer. If you review something you write from your own perspective not your community. I understand why most of the U.S is inbred.

[–] mozart_jeppe 18 years ago

I was born in '88 and Danish of nationality. I saw this movie when i was very small, but still remember it so clearly :) Astrid Lindgen stories are very popular in Denmark too.

[–] amandabom 17 years ago

I have always been absolutely mezmorized by this film..i never miss it when shown on swedish television.I loved it when i was a child too.and i often think about it ,and it's wisdom.More films like this that actually deal with life and death..whilst still manages to spark our imagination,should be shown more to children.I truly believe that this way of explaining things to kids makes them less shallow ,and grow up to be more thoughtful people. Bless Astrid Lindgren.May she live forever in our hearts.
Emma

[–] nishol 17 years ago

Being Danish and in my 30ies now, I have grown up with the books of Astrid Lindgren and have watched the movies a million times. There is no doubt in my mind that things like honesty, bravery, dealing with death and sorrow, taught in the books, are universal truths and should be taught all children. I will definately read the books to my children (when I get some that is :-).

[–] drunkdustin 17 years ago

I just got done watching this film and I am an American. I found it to be like the children's movies I enjoyed watching in the 80s. Back when Hollywood and Disney had some balls and didn't have to appeal to today's American society where every film has to be all warm and fuzzy. Half of the time, it is rehashed CGI crap. I think it is cool that bigdinosaur came back and agreed that children's films around the world should not be considered so taboo by our country's standards. However, I do think it is stupid that he is complaining about the production of Bröderna Lejonhjärta. It was made in 1977 for Christ's sake. Also, I see he is a fan of movie remakes... Disgusting. A gem like this should never be remade. What is it with our country and fouling up its classic films with cheap imitations? I want him to find me an American film from the 70s that is worthy of this high production value statement that he made. I doubt he will.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] furienna 15 years ago

I think this movie might be too European for some Americans. Of course, I think it's nothing but great. But then, I'm Swedish, so I'll be biased. But maybe we're more relaxed about death, violence and nudity in children's movies here in Europe? Yes, there's some death and violence in this movie. The dragon Katla is also terrifying (even if she might look cheaply done by today's standards), not to mention the scene, where Jussi gets branded on his chest. But I still consider this a children's movie, or more correctly, a family movie, even if it's darker than most other such movies. And the nudity? Well, there is a scene, where Skorpan and Jonathan sit together naked at a beach after taking a bath. But it's very brief, and it's not even a "full frontal". So is that really so much to get worked up over?

Yes, it's true! IMDB has reached Sweden!