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What's the connection between Swedish lesbians and Robyn song titles?

posted 12 years ago by mrojola
4 replies | jump to latest

"F ucking Åmål" was called "Show Me Love" in English speaking countries. That title came from a Robyn song played in the movie. I guess it's understandable that they changed the name even though it already was in English.

Now here's another Swedish film about lesbians called "Kyss mig" (i.e. "Kiss Me"). However, its' English name is "With Every Heartbeat", which is another Robyn song.

Is this a really complex marketing ploy or what is going on? Robyn connection did pop into my head, but I dont't believe that a majority of people will see the connection and want to see this movie after liking "F ucking Åmål".

Most fans of European cinema will automatically think about "F ucking Åmål" if someone mentions Swedish lesbian cinema, so there really is no strong reason to call it anything other than "Kiss Me".

I don't really mind these weird titles because I'm a huge fan both of Robyn and "F ucking Åmål", but it did make me wonder the reasoning behind all of this.

P.S. It really annoys me that this board won't let me write "F ucking Åmål" the way it is meant to be written. It's the name of the movie after all...

[–] itgirlx 11 years ago

It may be a 'marketing ploy' and I think "Kiss Me" (though I prefer the Swedish Kyss mig) is actually a far better title than "With Every Heartbeat" despite being a Robyn fan. "Show Me Love" was a better title for English-speaking release precisely for the same reason you cannot write 'F ucking Åmål' on this site.

Perhaps someone in the marketing department thought it a good idea to 'ride the coattails' of that first Swedish lesbian film which is still so popular. Regardless, "Kiss Me" is the best new lesbian film in a decade or more. I am so grateful for the maturity of the theme, its disposition and full character development of all the roles. I would very much like to see a "Kyss mig II" giving some backstory and filling in of the 'missing' characters--Frida's dad, Mia's mom, Mia's former girlfriend, what happened with that relationship, how Frida and Elin evolved, with more development of Frida and Mia' relationship once they had met in Spain.

Let the romance continue and blossom!

[–] ljr-x25 11 years ago

It doesn't need a sequel. How it ended if as much as the audience needed to see. There wouldn't be enough drama to provide for a sequel.

[–] janar72 11 years ago

Hi mrojola,

in this interview

http://lesbiannews.blogspot.de/2012/07/lip-service-talking-with-writer.html

writer/directress Alexandra-Therese Keining and producer/actress Josefine Tengblad answered to the question "Why did they change the English title from With Every Heartbeat to Kiss Me?":

ATK: There was a lot of drama about the title. Kiss Me is apparently short and easy to remember.
JT: It was a deal breaker for the American distributor so I had to say yes even though we like With Every Heartbeat more.

It's not a direct answer to your question but it seems to me that the marketing department chose the shorter title Kiss Me and With Every Heartbeat was their preferred first choice. In an earlier interview they mentioned that they asked Robyn through "mutual friends", that they "are just very happy that she let us use it because she is not so easy to get" and that Robyn had seen their movie. I would like to post a link to this interview but at the moment it's only available per Google Cache. You can search for

"WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT: Reviving The Lesbian Genre In Sweden"

and then choose for the first result the cached page (that worked for me today).

Best wishes,

janar

For relaxing times, you know.

[–] brittlsundstrom 11 years ago

Dont really know