Elvira Madigan

Elvira Madigan is a lyrical tragedy that puts mood before plot. Mozart on the soundtrack and wonderful images of the idyllic summer of southern Funen carry that mood. Bo Widerberg wrote the screenplay based on real events. In or around 1889, the Swedish officer and family man Sixten Sparre ran away with the very young tightrope dancer Elvira Madigan, whose baptismal name was Hedvig Jensen. They were sought in both Sweden and Denmark, which is why they had to keep a low profile. When the money ran out, they chose death rather than separation.

The film begins in medias res, just as the couple have arrived in Svendborg. The film then follows their romantic but doomed relationship through the balmy summer months.

Elvira Madigan is beautiful and atmospheric, but far, far too static for a modern audience.