Ulla min Ulla: A Glimpse into Old Stockholm's Cellar Life 🍷

This old Swedish film, Ulla min Ulla, is probably not for everyone today. If you're into Swedish cultural history or classic stage adaptations, you might find something charming here. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced story or even just crisp visuals, you’ll likely feel like it's a bit of a slog. It’s a niche taste, for sure. 🤷‍♀️

The whole thing plays out in this cellar called Tuppen, deep in Stockholm's Old Town. It's mostly just troubadour Bellman and his pals – Fredman, Mollberg, Mowitz, and Father Berg – having a good time, drinking, singing. You know, a typical night out, just a couple centuries ago.

It’s very much a stage play put on screen, you can feel it. The camera doesn't move much. It just kind of sits there, watching the scene unfold, like you're in the front row of a small theatre.

Bellman, played by Tore Ericsson, he’s got this presence. He’s the center of it all, strumming his lute, singing these old songs. You almost wish you had a songbook with the lyrics to follow along.

The other guys, the drinking buddies, they’re a fun bunch. Fredman, Mollberg… they’re not just background noise. Each has their own little reactions, their own way of holding a glass or laughing. It's a small cast, really, but they fill the space.

There's a scene where Father Berg just stares into his mug for a good long while. It’s not dramatic. Just a guy, lost in thought, maybe a bit too much schnapps. That kind of small, quiet moment, it sticks with you.

The film doesn't really have a plot, not in the modern sense. It’s more like a window into an evening. They drink, they talk, they sing. And then they drink some more. It just *is*.

The sound quality, well, it's old. You sometimes have to lean in to catch the dialogue, even with subtitles. It adds to the charm, I guess, or maybe just the effort. 😅

Visually, it’s mostly dark, lit by what looks like practical candles and some stage lights. You can almost smell the old wood and stale beer. It feels very authentic, even if a bit murky.

One shot, I remember, just focuses on a hand reaching for a bottle. It’s simple, but it tells you everything about the mood. No big gestures needed.

It’s hard to call this a "movie" in the way we think of them now. It's more of a preserved performance. A snapshot. A historical document, almost.

The pacing is… deliberate. No sudden cuts. No quick changes. It’s like watching a painting slowly come to life, brushstroke by brushstroke. For some, that’s going to be a real struggle.

I kept thinking about how different this is from something like The Broadway Bubble or even Du Barry, Woman of Passion from around the same era. Those had more ambition in storytelling, maybe. This one, it’s happy just to exist in its little cellar.

The music, Bellman's songs, they’re the real stars here. They carry the mood, the history. If you know these tunes, it's probably a much richer experience. I didn’t, but you still get the feeling for them.

The acting style is quite theatrical. Big expressions sometimes, but also moments of real quiet. Tore Ericsson's Bellman is quite good, he holds the screen without trying too hard.

You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this atmosphere matters. And it does, in its own way. It's not trying to blow you away. Just invite you in.

So, if you’re up for a very slow, very old, very Swedish dive into a historical drinking session, give it a shot. Otherwise, maybe stick to something a bit more modern. No shame in that. 😉