The Other Side of Sunday

Starring:Marie Theisen, BjÃ¸rn Sundquist, Hildegun Riise, Glen Thomas Guneriussen, Kristian Aaby, Henriette EngesÃ¦th, Ann Kristin Rasmussen, Petter Width Kristiansen, Ina Sofie Brodahl, Sylvia Salvesen, Martin Dahl Garfalk, Joachim Setsaas, JÃ¸rgen Langhelle, Hallvard Holmen, Kai Kennet Hanson
Director: Berit Nesheim
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

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The actual translation of this Oscar-nominated Norwegian film's original title, Sonntagsengel, is "Sunday Angels," which comes close to reflecting the state of innocence and grace from which the young heroine, Maria, attempts to penetrate adult mysteries in defiance of her father, a priest. The story is set in 1959, and Maria is unhappily lagging behind the rock & roll rebellion of her peers. Her father is severe and arbitrary in his judgments of what's best for her, her mother is in and out of a hospital, and her Sundays are spent in church, allegedly hanging on the old man's every word despite her ever-clarifying atheism. One way out: Find an ally as well as a cautionary figure in a lovely but miserable church servant who wishes she were as free as her true spirit. Directed by Berit Nesheim, the film is most vital during Maria's moments of unspoken yearning and accelerated confidence, giving us a palpable sense of a girl's inner life metamorphosing into womanhood. The rest--family scenes concocted to underscore Dad's own emotional conflicts and tyranny--are much more wooden. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Rebellion = self-discovery/individuality.......2006-08-29

Maria is a teenager whose father is a priest in a parish in a small town in Norway in the late 1950s. She is awakening to her individuality but finds the rules of her religion and home stifling ... Her friends are discovering the opposite sex while she is not even allowed to wear lipstick or mascara. Maria is wrestling with the teachings of her church and the natural inclinations of her own mind and nature ... Her father is the priest who has strict rules and a strict interpretation of the Bible - yet Maria has discovered the Song of Solomon where the verses speak exactly about the feelings she is experienceing. When sitting in church, her mind wanders to what she is missing and when listening to the sermon, her mind compares what she is truly feeling which differs from the narrow view presented of what G-d wants from his subjects. She ponders why G-d created imperfect human beings and then forces them to follow strict rules ... Maria's mother is a thin, gaunt lady whose life was squeezed out of her. She seems to have little say in the marriage, her role is that of an obedient servant.

Maria shares her personal questions and feelings with Mrs. Tunheim in whom she suspects a kindred spirit, a lady in the church who is the organist and the church secretary. Maria and she secretly put lipstick on each other and discuss forbidden subjects. Mrs. Tunheim speaks aabout freedom and its expression not being against G-d's will. She encourages Maria to pursue her own interests regardless of the teachings of the church. After Maria's mother is hospitalized with an ulcer, Maria over hears a discussion between Mrs. Tunheim and her father whom she suspects has feelings for the secretary ...

Maria wrestles whether to become confirmed (which means accepting the teachings of the church) and becoming a full-fledged adult member as she explores her secret secular experiences ... She attends confirmation class which is taught by a handsome young priest who awakens sexual desires in her girlfriend. The young priest spoke with Maria in private and kissed her. Maria skips class and dares to visit the cafe - called a "den of sin" by her father. There she sips a coke. Her 'sin' is reported to her father by some 'well meaning' parishioners. Maria makes veiled comments to her father about everything not being what it seems, referring to his feelings for Mrs. Tuneheim ... Maria continues to explore aspects of the secular life by questioning what she is taught versus what she sees as reality and what she experiences as an honest life before G-d. An unexpected event involving Mrs. Tunheim's disappearance brings her father and herself to an understanding about what is really important in life ... Despite the serious subject matter, the film contains many humourous and comedic moments as it presents the awakening of the innocence of the main character, Maria, into the complexity of adulthood. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

When your father is a priest! .......2006-02-13

Set in a Norwegian town in 1959, Maria is a young teen girl soon to become a woman, but is highly confused about her life. She is the daughter of a priest who loves and treasures his parishioners over family. Her mother is spineless while father is a stern dictator in the home. The family sits quietly to eat at the dinner table after the prayer/songs her father commands. He cannot tell her he loves her and she believes that the family only exists so the priest can have a home - a place to sleep and eat.

Maria seems bored and confused and doesn't want to be confirmed and hates how pathetic the church hags are and how the congregation lacks any love within themselves.

She is drawn to the teens from the congregation, who immediately after church hit the booze, smoke, listen to rock & roll and have sex. She explores her sexuality, wears makeup, earrings and lipstick. Her father calls the cafe where the youngsters hang out as the Devil's lair, the den of sin.

Maria befriends the church secretary, Mrs. Tunheim, who is having an affair with her father. Without divulging that she knows of the affair, Maria seeks advice and understanding from Mrs. Tunheim, someone willing to live freely and who tells Maria, "live your life."

The 1996 movie is on VHS with very poor visual and dark scenes. It is a coming-of-age, religious style. ...MzRizz

Maria Theisen is a Norwegian princess.......2005-01-07

The story was nice, not spectacular, but because of the pretty Norske girl, I give this movie a 5 star rating. Scandinavian films with Scandinavian heroines are the best!

A great film with Maria Theisen looking beautiful........2002-10-14

The movie is fantastic and all about church. Marie Theisen plays
a tremendous role and looks really beautiful as well. Those eyes
of hers are so innocent looking. I would like to see her in more
films today. The other children in the movie do a great job also. Especially the cheeky little girl.

Marie Theisen deserves to have more websites about her. More
pictures and information. I would like to download a picture of
Maria Theisen for my desktop. A very pretty actress of Norway.

A great film with Maria Theisen looking beautiful........2002-10-14

Marie Theisen deserves to have more websites about her. More
pictures and information. I would like to download a picture of
Maria Theisen for my desktop. A very pretty actress of Norway.

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