House of Angels

Colin Nutley's Swedish sleeper, "House of Angels", is a real gem. Set in small town Sweden, it's about a woman who comes from the big city to claim her ancestral home, after the death of her grandfather whom she never met. The townspeople are not welcoming to this city girl. As she pieces together information about her dead mother and grandfather provided by the townspeople, she learns more about herself. The themes of forgiveness and self-knowledge are evident, but not over sentimentalized. The small-mindedness of the Swedish townspeople is captured well by Nutley; anyone who has lived in a small community will recognize some of the characters.

This is a quirky, funny and at times poignant film, crafted by an excellent director and even better actors.