PREACHING TO THE CHOIR

As It Is In Heaven, filmed in the beautiful countryside of Sweden, was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005, but it hits quite a few wrong notes when it comes to implementing its inspirational message / By RM Crossin

Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film in 2005, As It Is In Heaven was not released in the United States until this year. The Swedish film is about the healing power of music, but its heavy-handed take on the inspirational message may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Director Kay Pollak opens the film with a beautifully filmed introduction showing the young protagonist Daniel playing his violin in the midst of a swaying field of wheat in his home village of Norrland. This serene scene is broken up when two bullies intrude on his practice session and beat him up. Eventually, Daniel moves away from Norrland and grows up to be a world famous violinist and conductor. Renowned for his rock star intensity, the grown-up Daniel (Michael Nyqvist) furiously leads his orchestra like a man possessed— not even a bloody nose will stop him from performing. His vigorous style and demanding schedule take a toll on his health, and a heart attack finally puts his career on hold.

Following his doctor’s advice, Daniel decides to retire and returns to his hometown. He moves into a tiny old abandoned school building and tries to keep to himself. While he was running errands, Daniel meets an attractive young lady, Lena (Frida Hallgren), and the brash Arne, who invites him to sit in on the local church choir. Going against medical advice, Daniel decides to take the choir under his wing and make it his project to help the members live up to the potential he sees in them.
There is no shortage of colorful characters in the church choir. Besides Lena and Arne, the singing group includes the pastor’s wife Inger (Ingela Olsson), abused housewife Gabrielle (Helen Sjoholm), the mentally-retarded Tore (Andre Sjoberg) and the timid big man Holmfrid (Mikael Rahm). The rejuvenated Daniel helps the small town folks to express themselves through the choir rehearsals, and in return, he rediscovers his passion for the art. But the film loses its footing after its solid beginning. The unlikely romance between Daniel and the significantly younger Lena takes pleasure in teasing its audience for more than two hours. The sanctimonious pastor Stig (Niklas Falk), whose inflexible personality is obviously the antithesis to Daniel’s child-like artistic ways, takes the film to a point of no return when the insane clergyman finally overshadows any genuine message intended by the filmmakers.

Overt melodrama and predictable clichés prevents the movie from effectively delivering its message. The characters take a brave stance against the dogmatic submission to religious and social norms, yet As It Is In Heaven ends up being preachier than its own hypocritical pastor. That’s when it ceases to inspire.

As It Is In Heaven is currently playing at the Angelika Film Center Houston.