(Uje Brandelius as Uje; Therese Hörnqvist as Therese; Bixi Brandelius as Bixi and Vega Brandelius as Vega. Photo: Johan Paulin. Copyright © 2020 FilmLance International AB)
Run,
Uje, Run (Sweden 2020, 75 Minutes) (Subtitled)
Director: Henrik Schyffert (His directorial
debut)
Screenplay and Songs: Uje Brandelius
(Run, Uje, Run will feature on the programme of the European Film Festival which runs from October 14 to 24, 2021.)
All
give excellent performances, along with the supporting cast, making this drama
eminently watchable. (Review by Barry Meehan)
Uje Brandelius (b. 1971) is a Swedish musician, actor and journalist. Since 1991, he has been the lead singer in the pop band “Doktor Kosmos”. In 2015, he released a solo album Spring Uje, spring (Run, Uje, Run), which he later developed into an autobiographical theatre performance of the same name.
Brandelius was led to create the stage play by an unexpected major setback in his life, which cannot be revealed in this review, as it would be giving away the pivotal turning point of his life story. The performance premiered in November 2016 and was then staged around Sweden, the last performance being in May 2018.
In May 2017, a radio version of the play premiered on Swedish Radio Drama, and in October 2018, the play came in silver in the prestigious Prix Europa competition, so it was no surprise that its success as a story would lead to it being made into a film in 2020, with Brandelius himself playing the lead role.
Run, Uje, Run premiered at the Gothenburg Film Festival in January 2020. It was nominated for six Golden Bugs at the Golden Bug Gala 2021, winning three, including Best Film, Best Male Lead (Brandelius) and Best Screenplay.
The movie is rather unique, with Brandelius playing himself, his partner Therese Hörnqvist playing herself, and his two children (one by Hörnqvist), Bixi and Vega, playing themselves. All give excellent performances, along with the supporting cast, making this drama eminently watchable. It also contains several songs, which tell aspects of the story, without any pretensions, as witnessed by the lyrics of the number which leads us into the narrative after a very different credit sequence:
“I
was born on a Summer’s Day
At
Lowenstromska Hospital in Upplands Vasby suburb.
My
mother’s name is Ulla, and my father’s name is Jerry.
If
you combine the first letters of their two names
Then
you get Uje, and that’s why I’m called that.
My
most famous relation was Harry Brandelius
He
was a famous singer in the 1940s.
This
is my own autobiography, and this is my favourite story.
(CHORUS)
Listen to me when I sing about me.
Other
song lyrics/titles that move the story along are:
“This
is Life and You Haven’t Got a Clue”
“During
the Night, I Feel All Right”
“Run,
Uje, Run”
You
Think You Have a Choice, But You’re a Marionette”
“When
We Fall, We’ll Hold Each Other up”
The titles above should give any potential
viewer the feel and direction of the movie. It is billed as a dark dramedy (a
film in which the comic elements derive mainly from character and plot
development), and that is precisely what it is, coming down to the premise that
one should appreciate what one has. So if you’re into movies with a
motivational message, then Run, Uje, Run
should certainly appeal to you.
Highly recommended. – Barry Meehan
Run, Uje, Run can be seen free of charge from October 14 to 24, 2021, on the European Film Festival’s website. For more information visit https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/
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