The Apple War


The Apple War is a 1971 Swedish comedy-drama film directed by Tage Danielsson, starring Gösta Ekman, Hans Alfredsson, Tage Danielsson, Monica Zetterlund and Max von Sydow. The political theme of the film is the battle between nature on the one hand and commercialisation and industrialisation on the other set to exploit and ultimately destroy land and natural resources. The film can also be seen as an early criticism of globalisation as it depicts foreign, and large scale, capitalist investors and entrepreneurs as exploiters working side by side with domestic, small scale, capitalists.
The songs in The Apple War are composed and written by Evert Taube, who also makes a cameo in the film as the old man who dances with Monica Zetterlund at the end party, and while there also recites a part of one of his most famous songs, Calle Schewens vals, performed by the cast in the same scene at the end. Winner of three Guldbagge Awards, The Apple War is a popular cult film in Sweden, and referred to as a "Hasse & Tage" film due to the creators Tage Danielsson and Hasse Alfredson.

Plot

A Swiss businessman wants to buy land in southern Sweden for a gigantic amusement park, his new project called "Deutschneyland". Some of the locals dislike the idea, including the magically talented Lindberg family, and work to frustrate the development plans.

Cast

In order:
  • "Änglamark"
  • "Mirrabooka marsch"
  • "Solig morgon"
  • "Sjösala vals"
  • "Calle Lång dansar portugis"
  • "Diktaren och Tiden"
  • "Julius och Mariella"
  • "Byssan lull"
  • "Möte i monsunen"
  • "Stockholmsmelodi", performed by Evert Taube
  • "Pierina eller Blå anemonerna", performed by Thord Carlsson, Folke Eng, Lars Malgefors, Håkan Norlen and Lillemor Lysell
  • "Fritiof Anderssons paradmarsch"
  • "Bal på Skeppsholmen"
  • "Min älskling "
  • "Nocturne"
  • "Calle Schewens vals", performed by Martin Ljung, Max von Sydow, Birgitta Andersson, Monica Zetterlund, Hans Alfredson and Evert Taube
  • "Änglamark", performed by Sven-Bertil Taube

    Reception

The film was the second highest-grossing film in Sweden released in 1971 behind Emil i Lönneberga.

Awards

The film won the Swedish Film Institute's Guldbagge Award award in 1972 in three categories:
  • Best Film
  • Best Director - Tage Danielsson
  • Best Actress - Monica Zetterlund