One of the better Coming of Age Films you are likely to see

I think the 7.6 is just about right for this film. I think the film is at it's strongest when Ingemar is sent off to stay with His Uncle and his partner, which are about 70% of the films running time. I felt when he was sent home again, just as his mother dies. The film dragged a bit and I thought Ingemar came off like a bit of a selfish brat at times. But overall I thought Lasse Hallstorm pulls it off just right, between sweetness and dark moments something with his later Hollywood films he fell way to into the sweetness. I definitely think this is still his strongest film, probably along with What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Anton Glanzelius gives a great performance as Ingemar, you feel for him although at times you really dislike him but he wins you around the end. The stand out role is probably from Melinda kinnaman, as the tomboy Saga, she almost steals the film from Anton. She brights up the screen whenever she's on, and brings the films laughs. The budding romance is sweet, although I don't know how the topless scenes will go down today with a modern audience.

I read that the book is a lot darker, and you can tell that it could have gone that way in the film but Hallstrom get's it right this time and leaves it on a brighten note. Got the recent Arrow Blu-Ray/DVD release and it was well worth the money.