Second Act (2023) User Reviews (2)

Pleasant entertainment.

[henrikkarell · 6/10 · 18 May 2024]

This is the improbable love story between the worn-out theater actor Harald Skog and the recently retired occupational therapist Eva Söderberg. Harald (Rolf Lassgård) refuses to give up after a severe stroke, and Eva (Lena Olin) remains undeterred despite the challenges posed by her patients. We follow Harald's journey towards an unexpected comeback.

Both Rolf Lassgård and Lena Olin infuse their roles with magnetic presence. While Rolf convincingly embodies a revered theater actor with all his gravitas, Lena seems a bit too grand for her role, making it hard to see Eva Söderberg instead of Lena Olin.

This was a moment of pleasant entertainment, but not much more. Many non-Swedish viewers might find the character dynamics and their relationships unclear. It's likely that the script better captured these Swedish social nuances, but they didn't fully translate to the screen.

Another gem from Klingberg, Olin and Lassgård

[martinpersson97 · 9/10 · 25 February 2023]

Mårten Klingberg has a rich filmography, and he has worked with Rolf Lassgård before. This one is just as good as their other collaborations.

Telling a somber and tragic tale about the changes life can bring as you get older, it is also very hopeful and funny at the same time. The actors all do an incredible job, as is to be expected when some of Sweden's acting elite is involved.

The film is also brave enough to end on a rather unconventional note rather than just being your typical feel-good love story, and it feels very emancipating and fresh.

Overall, an incredible film, and yet another great adition to the swedish "Cinema Pass", which aspires to include incredible and deep films.