When you think of feel good sporting films you often think of teenagers or much older people overcoming the odds to triumph both personally and in their chosen sporting field. But you don’t often think of the two combined. And in Britt-Marie Was Here we have a beautiful, feel good film that will leave you feeling all fuzzy and warm for days. 

 

When Britt-Marie, age 63, leaves her husband after 40 years of marriage, she is forced to reconsider her life and break up with old habits in order to meet the real world. Britt-Marie ends up in the miserable backwater town of Borg, where life seems to be over for the few people that are still around. However, there are bigger dreams in Borg as well and they breathe new life into Britt-Marie’s deeply hidden belief in a future. Perhaps there is a second chance in life –perhaps it’s never too late to start living.

 

Essentially Britt-Marie Was Here is a coming of age tale - at 63. Britt-Marie has lived her life in the shadows, behind the scenes but as a result of her husband's affair she must push out into the world. And when she does she is greeted with all of its messiness but also all of its wonderful beauty. 

 

And as she starts to embrace life outside of the confines of her rigid lists and schedules, we see Britt-Marie start to soften. It’s a film that doesn’t demand too much of us as the audience but it's a gentle, feel good film that will leave you with the warm and fuzzies. 

 

Pernilla August (Anakin Skywalker’s Mum) is wonderful in the role of Britt-Marie. Even in the rigidity of the character in the first couple of acts of the film, her humanity is still on display in small glimpses. 

 

Britt-Marie Was Here is a beautiful, feel good film that will leave you feeling all fuzzy and warm for days.