critics consensus

A modest and touching story about first love. Read critic reviews

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Under the Sun Photos

View All Photos (12)

Movie Info

Illiterate Olof (Rolf Lassgård) inherits the family farm after his mother's death and relies upon his friend Erik (Johan Widerberg) for help with all the paperwork and correspondence. When Olof places an ad for a female housekeeper, Ellen (Helena Bergström) applies for the post, and within a short time of her arrival the unlikely pair start to fall for each other. Afraid of being replaced in his friend's affections, Erik discovers Ellen is already married and schemes to break up the couple.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

Swedish
Director:

Colin Nutley
Producer:

Colin Nutley
Writer:

Johanna Hald, David Neal, Colin Nutley
Release Date (Theaters):

Jan 1, 1998 wide
Box Office (Gross USA):

$332.1K
Runtime:

2h 10m
Production Co:

Sweetwater, Svenska Filminstitutet, Film i Väst, Svensk Filmindustri, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Sveriges Television
Sound Mix:

DTS-ES, DTS
Aspect Ratio:

Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Rolf Lassgård
Olof

Helena Bergström
Ellen Lind

Johan Widerberg
Erik Jonsson

Gunilla Röör
Newspaper Receptionist

Jonas Falk
Preacher

Linda Ulvaeus
Lena

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Under the Sun

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (9)

Quote not available.

August 10, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
Quote not available.

April 25, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Globe and Mail
Under The Sun is a decent, polished and rather coy romantic indulgence, just the kind of thing for people who like the idea of the farm but can't abide the dirt.

July 26, 2002 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
It's like an Ingmar Bergman parody of what used to be racy about Swedish cinema -- sexy and sentimental and absolutely gorgeous to look at.

March 14, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
What's most surprising -- and enjoyable -- is Under the Sun's earnestness and simplicity.

November 8, 2001

Gary Dowell
Dallas Morning News
Not much happens in Under the Sun, nor does it need to.

October 28, 2001 | Full Review…

Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
Quote not available.

August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Quote not available.

August 21, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A very simple, very mild romance but a nice one.

March 25, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff
This charmingly low-key Swedish comedy is handsomely filmed and cleverly put together.

November 3, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Dan Lybarger
Kansas City Star
Under the Sun succeeds in direct proportion to one's ability to fall in sync with its tentative pace and low-keyed mood.

March 14, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Richard C. Walls
Orlando Weekly
Brilliantly acted, achingly affecting and superbly photographed, Under the Sun is everything you'd want from a great love story.

January 4, 2002

Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

Quote not available.

August 10, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
Quote not available.

April 25, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Globe and Mail
Under The Sun is a decent, polished and rather coy romantic indulgence, just the kind of thing for people who like the idea of the farm but can't abide the dirt.

July 26, 2002 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
It's like an Ingmar Bergman parody of what used to be racy about Swedish cinema -- sexy and sentimental and absolutely gorgeous to look at.

March 14, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
Quote not available.

August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Quote not available.

August 21, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A very simple, very mild romance but a nice one.

March 25, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff
This charmingly low-key Swedish comedy is handsomely filmed and cleverly put together.

November 3, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Dan Lybarger
Kansas City Star
Under the Sun succeeds in direct proportion to one's ability to fall in sync with its tentative pace and low-keyed mood.

March 14, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Richard C. Walls
Orlando Weekly
Brilliantly acted, achingly affecting and superbly photographed, Under the Sun is everything you'd want from a great love story.

January 4, 2002

Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star
If there was a subtle, truthful way to tell the sappy story of Under the Sun, the director Colin Nutley was unable to find it.

October 22, 2001 | Full Review…

Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
... a sweet and touching story of first love.

October 12, 2001 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for Under the Sun

Dec 11, 2012

Cute but it falls short of a total success. Think of it as grumpy middle aged men but with Swedishness throughout.

John B Super Reviewer
Jan 22, 2012

Redemptive tale, lyrically told and filmed in golden hues, of a lonely Swedish farmer who hires a mysterious housekeeper with a past: can they save each other? Simplicity and the importance of trust have seldom looked so good.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer