Simon and the Oaks (film)


Simon and the Oaks is a Swedish drama film which was released to cinemas in Sweden on 9 December 2011, directed by Lisa Ohlin and starring Bill Skarsgård. The film is based on the novel with the same name by Marianne Fredriksson. The film was nominated in 13 categories at the 47th Guldbagge Awards, won two of the awards: Cecilia Nilsson for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the role as Inga, and Jan Josef Liefers for Best Actor in a Supporting Role as Ruben Lentov.
Ohlin took over as director for the film, after the director Björn Runge in April 2009 announced that he would dropped out of the production.
In May 2009, the Swedish Film Institute announced that Ohlin quits her job as film commissioner at the SFI to direct the film.

Plot

The film is about Simon, growing up in a working-class family on the outskirts of Gothenburg during World War II. He is very talented and always felt different and an outsider. Against his parents' approval, he seeks education in the arts, normally not attended by members of the working class at the time. There he meets Isaak, the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who fled persecution in Nazi Germany. The lives of the two boys and their families intertwine as the war rages in Europe. At the end of the war, it becomes clear to Simon that his life, family and his very identity will no longer be the same.

Cast

Accolades

Simon and the Oaks was nominated for 13 Guldbagge Awards, and won two.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipients and nomineesResult
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best FilmChrister Nilson
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best DirectorLisa Ohlin
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best ActressHelen Sjöholm
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Supporting ActorJan Josef Liefers
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Supporting ActressCecilia Nilsson
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Visual EffectsMarcus B. Brodersen and Lars Erik Hansen
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Original ScoreAnette Focks
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Costume DesignKatja Watkins
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Art DirectionAnders Engelbrecht, Lena Selander and Folke Strömbäck
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Make-up/HairLinda Boije af Gennäs
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best CinematographyDan Laustsen
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Sound EditingJason Luke
Guldbagge AwardJanuary 23, 2012Best Film EditingKasper Leick and Michal Leszczylowski