My Life as a Dog - Criterion Collection |  | Director: Lasse Hallström
Actors: Anton Glanzelius, Stig Engström, Anita Ekström, Göran Stangertz, Lena Lindgren
Studio: Criterion
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.95
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Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 12767
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: Swedish (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: PMIDMYL010D
ISBN: 0780026217
UPC: 037429173527
EAN: 9780780026216
ASIN: B000087EY5
Theatrical Release Date: March 24, 1987
Release Date: March 11, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Ingemar is a working-calss 12 year old sent to live with his uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Once there ingemar finds refuge from his misfortunes & unexpected adventures with the help of the towns warmhearted eccentrics. Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 03/11/2003 Run time: 101 minutes Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Amazon.com
Simultaneously elegiac and raw, this uneven--but unforgettable--tearjerker tells the story of Ingemar, a 12-year-old working-class Swedish boy sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Beginning with several representations of the most savage, unsentimental domestic intensity imaginable (interplay between a sick parent and loving child has never looked anywhere near as explosive), My Life as a Dog wisely doesn't attempt to maintain that level of danger; rather, the change in locale to rural Sweden is accompanied by a slackening of pace and a whimsical breeziness. Nevertheless, the tragic condition of Ingemar's mother (and later, the indeterminate fate of Sickan, his beloved dog, consigned to a kennel) hovers over the narrative with a gripping portentousness. At times, director Lasse Hallström misplaces the rhythm, and the film threatens to degenerate into a series of rustic vignettes; luckily, Ingemar's relationship with Gunnar, the jocular yet somewhat sinister uncle who essentially adopts him, carries a fascinating charge. In Swedish, with subtitles. This was later rewritten, whether intentionally or not, by Spike Lee, who changed the gender of the child, set the story in New York City, added a 1970s soul soundtrack, and called it Crooklyn. --Miles Bethany
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 48
 A beautifully developed depiction of life at its fullest... November 17, 2009
Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of my favorite movies ever (and I mean EVER), `Mitt Liv som Hund' is an astonishing (and delightful) look at adolescence. It runs to gamut with it's use of nearly every emotion in the book, depicting the harsher more raw realities of childhood as well as the soft and sweet fantastical moments that only a child (and those young at heart) can truly enjoy.
I almost hate to really review this film, because there is so much to draw from and really relish in that it is almost advisable to walk in blind and just soak it all up as it is thrown at you. Anticipation at times can kill the beauty in the surprise, and this film is such a beautiful surprise indeed.
So, the gist of `Mitt Liv som Hund' is that young Ingemar is not thriving at home, or that is to say that home is not thriving due to some dramatic circumstances (his mother's dwindling health) and so Ingemar and his brother are separated and sent to live with relatives. Ingemar is sent to Sweden to live with his Aunt and Uncle. They are whimsical and joyous (especially his Uncle) and, while change is always difficult, Ingemar finds a sort of solace in his new home.
Seriously, can I stop here?
The film is such a splendid amalgam of romance and tension, of blossoming friendships and childish naivety and curiosities and companionship and the need for guidance and discipline. It is such a fully realized film that beautifully portrays the best and worst (so the entirety) of life.
The guy who said that this was uneven missed the point, for life is uneven, thus `Mitt Liv som Hund' is as `even' as they come.
The performances that run through this gorgeous film are all outstanding, but singling out one is very, very easy. Anton Glanzelius is, in a word, astonishing here. His comprehension of Ingemar's life and struggles is just breathtaking. 1987 was a fantastic year for child performances, from this stunner to Christian Bale's eye-opening performance in `Empire of the Sun' to the one-two-punch of Gaspard Manesse and Raphael Fejto, who just blew through `Au Revoir, les Enfants' with fervor and grace. Glanzelius is a worthy inclusion to their company (Bale, Glanzelius and Manesse would make my personal Best Actor ballot without ANY hesitation). Tomas von Bromssen is also a standout, for it is his jovial portrayal of Gunnar, Ingemar's Uncle and newfound guardian, that makes some of the films most poignant scenes POP. I also want to call attention to the beautiful performance given by Melinda Kinnaman, for her sweet and spunky portrayal of Saga, the tomboy vying for Ingemar's affections, is one of the most memorable and lovable in the film.
UGH, I love this movie!
Don't Listen to the Other Reviews! August 13, 2009
Stosh (Pennsylvania)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I don't know what disk some of the other reviewers were talking about, but they definitely were not commenting on the Criterion Collection edition of "My Life As A Dog", in spite of what they said. The Criterion disk IS anamorphic widescreen, and it is of superior video quality. The video quality is flawless, exactly what you would expect from Criterion. There is a syncing problem with the subtitles at one point, but it is minor and only lasts for a short time. It is not worth worrying about.
I don't know what the writers motives are, but their comments about the aspect ratio and the video quality of this Criterion release are flat-out wrong. Don't let what they said deter you from purchasing this fine edition of this excellent movie.
 Soft psycho movie May 2, 2009
Michael Kerjman (The Earth)
A film of a boy as mother of him was passing away. I feel story's soft inclination to Julien Donkey-Boyalso Sweden's movie had originated earlier.
Swedish Charmer March 20, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This Swedish film offers a different kind of story and a strangely appealing one.
Anton Glanzelius is good as the 12-year-old who not only stars in the movie but does a good job narrating it as well. When he finds himself in a tough situation, he always compares himself to something worse, such as a Soviet space dog and its unfortunate lot. The tomboyish-looking young girl who flirts with him, Melinda Kinnaman, is fun to watch, too. I wonder what she looks like now as an adult?
For kids that young, I thought there was a little too much emphasis on sex, but mostly it's just natural curiosity of what the other sex looks like, and the intentions are innocent.
Overall, it is a charming film with almost all (one exception: his older brother) likable people.
An film about a snippet of life. April 24, 2008
Amanda J. Evans (Australia)
This film seems ordinary when watching it though interesting, but by the time the story comes to a close you realize you've enjoyed to whole film and that it's a beautiful story.I think this is a story that reaches out to all who watch it and that we can all relate to it on one level or another.
It is an honest and lovely film, well recommended.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 48
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