Lilja 4-ever (Lilya 4-ever)

Introduction

Short synopsis

Enlarge Swedish Poster

One day her mother moves to the USA along with her new man, and Lilja is promised to be able to join them soon.

Enlarge Oksana Akinshina (Lilja) and Artiom Bogutjarskij (Volodja).

One day hope arrives when Lilja falls in love with Andrei. He asks her to follow him to Sweden to start a new life. Little Volodja gets jealous and suspicious, but Lilja packs her bags. Suddenly she's sitting on a plane on its way to Sweden - not knowing what awaits her there.

Some words from the director

Enlarge Director Lukas Moodysson.

It turned into a film about two children, Lilja and Volodya, who live in a country that was once part of the mighty Soviet empire and which now lies in ruins.

It turned into a film about longing to be somewhere else, about leaving everything behind, about being left alone, about never giving up, about rich people who belives everything can be bought, about poor people who are forced to sell everything they've got (apart from their heart), about such things that happen far away and about such things that happen in the street that I live, about cough-mixture and glue, about basketball, about Britney Spears, about sketching one's name on a bench so everyone can see that you exists, about being scoffed at, about giving up, about death, about a friendship that never ends, about a light that never stops to burn.

And perhaps it’s a little bit about God's kindness aswell - despite the fact that he never answers when Lilja prays to him.

Lukas Moodysson

Webmaster's first impressions
What the film-makers say is well and good, but of course what you're waiting for is what your webmaster has to say :). I can say one thing - Lukas Moodysson is like a sign of quality - it's not a question if the film is great or not, it's a question of how great it is. Unlike Fucking Åmål and Tillsammans this is a rather dark film, but you still recognize his style - and it confirm once again that a Lukas Moodysson film isn't like any other film. Even though you can't read my complete review yet - every Norwegian newspaper, magazine, radio and TV-program with respect for themselves have of course reviewed Lilja 4-ever - with not one single negative review this time! Almost too good to be true? Well, it's not very strange. Lilja 4-ever is a very politically correct film, and hard to say anything negative about because it's about such a real and important issue. It's a typical film that film lovers love because we love to see all kinds of films, not only those with the standard happy ending, while the normal mainstream audience won't that easily go to see this film because they want to be entertained, they don't want to have to think and reflect and leave the cinema hall sad. That's quite understandable, and is also shown by a massive media interest that isn't reflected in number of audience - and not a full-scale premiere here in Norway. Smaller cinemas will have to wait a while before they get the film. This is sad of course, but it's just the way it is. I'm happy that Lukas finally shows us this side of himselves, that he can also make films he knows isn't for everyone. But he certainly made a film for his true fans... for true film lovers...

Cast & Crew

Director Lukas Moodysson, producer Lars Jönsson and their team at Memfis Film has once again joined great filmmakers and actors to create another masterpiece.

Oksana Akinsjina (Lilja)

Oksana Akinsjina as Lilja

Oksana has appreciated to work with Lukas despite that the part as Lilja at times were very hard to play: «Lukas helped me a lot, and we worked out the solutions to the problems together», she explains.

Artiom Bogutjharskij (Volodja)

Artiom Bogutjharskij as Volodja

Artiom says, that the thought really good about the studio in Trollhättan, Lukas Moodysson as director and everyone in the team. But he wasn't happy about the cold weather, dirt, steam and the cold clothes. Lukas says that he has «the same humour as a Russian».

Pavel Ponomarjov (Andrei)

Pavel Ponomarjov as Andrei

Elina Benenson (Natasja)

Elina Benenson as Natasja

Ljubov Agapova (Lilja's mother)

Ljubov Agapova as Lilja's mother

Lilija Sjinkarjova (Moster Anna)
Lilija was born in 1948. She took her exams at «The Art Institute» in Vladivostok and has since 1971 worked at the Russian theatre in Tallinn.

Tomas Neumann (Witek)

Tomas Neumann as Witek

Producer Lars Jönsson/ Memfis Film
Lilja 4-ever has been produced by Lars Jönsson for Memfis Film, a small Stockholm-based film producer. Memfis has the latest ten years been behind several of the biggest Scandinavian film successes: Änglagård (Colin Nutley), Fucking Åmål, Tillsammans (Lukas Moodysson), Jalla! Jalla! (Josef Fares) - and more. Lars Jönsson was even exekutive producer for Lars von Trier's Cannes-honoured Breaking the waves and Dancer in the Dark. At the moment (autumm 2002) is Memfis producing Josef Fares' upcoming feature film that will get theatrical release in Sweden in February 2003. Memfis upcoming co-productions are among others Lars von Trier's Dogville, Sergei Bodrov's Bear's Kiss and Thomas Vinterberg's It's all about love. The co-operation with Lukas Moodysson started with the short film Bara prata lite in 1997. Selected filmography: Änglagård (Colin Nutley), Fucking Åmål (Lukas Moodysson), Breaking the waves (Lars von Trier, exekutiv producent), Hela Härligheten (Leif Magnusson), Lucky People (Center International, Johan Söderberg & Erik Pauser), Tillsammans (Lukas Moodysson), Harry & Sonja (Björn Runge), Den Bästa Sommaren (Ulf Malmros), Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier, co-exekutiv producent), Jalla! Jalla! (Josef Fares), Hundhotellet (Per Åhlin), Tranceformer (Stig Björkman), Lilja 4-ever (Lukas Moodysson). Short films including Lukas Moodysson's Bara prata lite, Reza Parsa's Tigerhjärta and Baker Karim's Malcolm. Most of these films are of course available on DVD and VHS, available to order directly from this site.

Media

Check out the media page for Lilja 4-ever.

Soundtrack

Enlarge Soundtrack

Lukas Moodysson and his team has like always chosen a great soundtrack that emphazises the strenght of the film. The choice of Rammstein to open and end the film speaks for itself: Mein Herz brennt... (My Heart Burns...).

Music listing: 1) Mein Herz brennt (film-remix) - Rammstein, 2) Bomba - Via Gra, 3) O virtus sapientie - Fläskkvartetten, 4) The bridge - Nathan Larson, 5) The ride - Double N, 6) Tayu - Valeria, 7) Only U - Antiloop, 8) Sexy - French Affair, 9) Let your body free - Antiloop, 10) Ne obizhay menya - Valeria, 11) Ne obmanyvay - Valeria, 12) All the love you needed - Maarja, 13) Forever young 2001 (F.A.F. mix) - Alphaville, 14) Nas ne dogonjat - T.A.T.U., 15) Piece of my heart - Lambretta, 16) Wanna be with me - Da Buzz, 17) I smell of you - Blanka, 18) Al santo sepolcro - Vivaldi, 19) Mein Herz brennt - Rammstein.

The soundtrack was available on CD the same day the film was released in theatres in Sweden - August 23, 2002. It was discontinued by the distributor in 2003 so it is unfortunately no longer possible to order seperately, but a DVD+CD release is still available to order (as long as stock lasts). It's a very good production from Memfis and Universal Music, with a booklet in artprint-quality (not included with the DVD+CD release unfortunately). I'm also able to get albums and singles from the individual artists. Universal also released the soundtrack in Norway October 17, 2002 (discontinued). Here is what Universal says about the soundtrack: This Swedish success-film has already been released in Norway, and received amazing critics. Here is at last film music that's just as good as the film. You'll find, among other, Rammstein, our new shooting star t.A.T.u. (in Russian), Lambretta, a specially written tune from Fläskkvartetten, a new remix of Alphaville's Forever Young, Da Buzz, Antiloop, French Affair, plus 3 songs by Russian Valeria. One of 2002's very best soundtracks.

Release Dates

Lilja 4-ever premiered in Sweden on August 23, 2002. Norway followed September 20, and Denmark and Finland September 27. The film was an instant success among critics and media all around Scandinavia – if not a boxoffice success. After a while though it got over 100 000 visitors in Sweden – and with the dark theme and Russian dialouge in mind this is great.

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Worldwide Theatrical Release Dates

Worldwide Festival Release Dates

Worldwide Video Release Dates

The lists are based on at least one certified source that there will be a release, not just anticipations. Last updated in 2004.

International sales of distribution rights is handled by Trust Films in Denmark. Distributor information below is taken from their website. Last updated in 2004.

Lilja 4-ever has a distributor in Australia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, CIS, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxemborg, Macedonia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA, and Yugoslavia (Serbia & Montenegro). So if you live there it's just a matter of time before it arrives on a cinema or video near you! :)

Lilja 4-ever still doesn't have any distributor in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada Eng., Canada Fr., Caribbian Islands, Central America, Chile, China, Columbia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Malyasia, Middle East, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Philippines, Rumania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela. This list might be slightly outdated. I'd at least guess a distributor for Canada should come on board pretty soon.

Awards and Nominations

Wherever Lilja 4-ever has been shown it's been acclaimed both by critics and audience.

Awards

Nominations

All photos: Per-Anders Jörgensen/ Memfis Film AB. Please note: This is an unofficial site not affiliated with Memfis Film, Lukas Moodysson or any other people or companies involved in the production of the film.