Kärlek efter noter: Grocery store dreams and operetta schemes

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school black and white musicals where everyone is incredibly polite and the stakes feel like they’re being played for keeps in a small town, you’ll dig this. If you need grit, modern pacing, or anything resembling a serious plot, you’re probably going to be bored out of your mind. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it doesn't try to solve the world’s problems.

Bertil Karlsson really, really wants to put on a show. That’s the whole engine of this thing. His family runs a grocery store, which sounds like the most stifling place on earth if you’ve got rhythm in your soul. I couldn't stop looking at the shelves in the background—the labels are all so neatly arranged, it almost hurts. It’s the perfect foil for the chaos of the theater.

There is this one moment where Bertil is trying to explain his vision to his parents, and the camera just lingers on his face for a few seconds too long. You can see the actor thinking, “Am I doing enough?” and then he just smiles bigger. It’s charmingly desperate. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Frivolité, though maybe a bit less polished in its execution.

The musical numbers are… well, they’re there. They aren't going to change your life, but they serve the purpose. Sometimes they go on just long enough that I started wondering if the grocery store was actually the real star of the show. I mean, look at those counters. You don't see craftsmanship like that in supermarkets anymore.

Thor Modéen is in this, and he just has this way of commanding the room even when he’s just standing there looking confused. He brings a weight to the scenes that otherwise might just float away entirely. It’s a bit like watching a heavy anchor try to keep a balloon from drifting off into the stratosphere.

Honestly, the movie gets a lot better once it stops trying to build up the 'family conflict' and just lets the characters be goofy on stage. The transition from the dusty store to the bright stage lights is jarring, but maybe that’s the point. It’s a classic escape fantasy, right?

I found myself thinking about La soñadora while watching this, mainly because of the way both films treat their protagonists’ daydreams. It’s not about if they succeed; it’s about how much they’re willing to lose to try. Still, don't overthink it. It's just a fun little romp. 🎶

• That one scene with the apron being taken off way too slowly.
• The lighting in the operetta sequences is surprisingly moody for a comedy.
• I definitely could have used more of the grocery store banter.
• Why is everyone so obsessed with singing instead of selling potatoes?