Words leave imprints in your mind like footprints in the sand...
2005 – A cross between Harold Fry and Forest Gump. A classic in Swedish but still as funny thanks to the translation by Rod Bradbury. Imagine following a 100 year old man around the world? Not even going to be a slow journey with this one!
It’s Allan Karlsson’s birthday. He’s 100 years old and the old people’s home where he lives is having a party for him except he doesn’t want a party.
Everyone is going to be there – the mayor is going to be there not to mention all the press. Allan however has other plans.
In the style of Harold Fry he goes on a journey of both discovery and self discovery and in the style of Forest Gump, he manages to be a part of quite a few of world events of the 20th century as well as meeting Stalin and many American presidents.
This is a fun jaunt around the world as we learn what Allan got up to as a young boy and how he ended up getting involved with some of the most significant moments in world history. Now this is something which can and should be used to make history more fun! See it through Allan’s eyes!
As an old man, his adventures may not take him as far but they do take him all over Sweden from Malmköping to Småland and many stops in-between. Follow him around the Swedish countryside as he gets in to one scrape after another then see how the police try to catch him and why.
Sweden and its rural countryside gets a good look in and you may discover a few friendly villages that you may not have noticed otherwise. Malmköping is definitely worth a visit although you wont see Allan’s care home sadly.
Other places of note are; Flen – where the police are based who come in the search for Allan, Växjö – where the motley crew made of Allan and others drive through and Falköping –
http://www.vastsverige.com/en/falkoping/
Oh and if you ever see an elephant in the Swedish countryside, beware….
Clare:
Ahh Swedish humour – may not be well known but believe me this is it! Wry, dry and very very funny, if you want to get an insight into a country where (UK comedy shows do very very well) then you should become Allan’s friend now.
The characters he meets on the way are larger than life and eccentric and comical but this is a feel good often very dark comedy which I thought very Swedish and very funny.
Oh and a part of me would love to travel as much as Allan although perhaps not through history as he did. Tell you what though – it was quite the history and geography lesson all in one!
