Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

OJT This is one of the two best recent Swedish films I've seen, and not surprisingly it's Tomas Alfredson which is the director. It's a funny film to watch, but there's a serious undertone here. The film is made by a group of Swedish comedians which are called "Killinggänget", and many of them are at least well know over most of Scandinavia. Some of them occurs in several roles in the four stories. Some might be offended by the humor which is about very serious matters and even about very touchy subjects, making it even more funny in my opinion."Four shades of brown" tells four stories with the three hours the film last, and they are all somewhat connected in the title. In all four of the stories which are taking place in four opposite sides of this rather geographically large country, we see different relations between parents and kids, and the problems with these family relations, and the result of this.The synopsis of the four stories are, in short, all leading to disasters:1. A crematory-worker wants to show his line of work to his misguided and troubled son, because he feels forced to do so, something which he should never have done.2. A magician couple comes to visit their son, which tries to step out of his own class after buying a up-class beach hotel. They are bringing a third wheel on the wagon, a Danish free spirited man, picked up by the wife, because she is sick and tired of her boring husband. It leads to disaster.3. A free spirited horse trainer, which was abused as child, has become a worshiper of Buddha, and has never cared much for his three sons, dies, and cheats them from heritage. 4. A therapy group gathers several times and are being sincere about their problems, which include relations and dealing with the truth.These four stories are in way from everyday Sweden, and they are all good enough to be film by themselves. They are all taken out on the edge, but with a darker meaning behind it all. The film poster are simply the Swedish flag painted in four shades of brown around the yellow cross. I am not the one to reveal what it's all about, but the title might refer to the Swedish plague of neo-Nazism and right extremism which has risen for the last decades. Is this film trying to give an input into that discussion? Are the fathers all ruining their kids?A demanding film in many ways. Long, four stories which has a connection and difficult matters. The film resembles the brilliant "In order of disappearance", which is equally dark and funny, and also have a serious comment lying behind the story. Equally recommended, and a tad easier to watch as pure entertainment with it's single story and two running hours.

Tord S Eriksson Never, ever, have I been as impressed by a film as this little piece about four groups of people, that faces a crisis, or many. In some ways a little like Short Cuts, but totally different, at the same time.There are a heap of lead characters, whom we all learn to know very well as their stories unfold, and they are, as persons show their good and their bad sides, their weaknesses and their strengths, with lots of drama and laughter.The closest equivalent in a US movie, I can think of, which then is far weaker in every respect, is the Royal Tenenbaums. Four Shades of Brown, as the title would be in English, tells the story about a stressed out hotelier and his wife, and his elderly parents (who are traveling magicians); about the receptionist at an animal crematory and his family misadventures; about the members of a cooking course (who mostly talk about their sorry lives) and fourthly about the funeral for a womanizing trotter jockey, who tries to continue orchestrating the family from beyond the grave, by singing and appearing in 3D during the funeral, thanks to high tech equipment that has cost his entire fortune (the family gets nil, not even the famous horse is given to the family)!There is a warmth and compassion in this film, that is filled with grief and laughter, that I've never experienced before.Most actors were new to me, except Robert Gustafsson and one or two more, but they all deserve the big slam the film took at the Swedish Guldbagge extravaganza (= the Swedish "Oscar" Awards) a week ago!Male, female and male supporting actor prizes went to this film, plus a few more, to boot!If you have the chance, go and see it - the hours float by very quickly!

mantina_rex This movie must be exported to the rest of the world! An absolute masterpiece, with a both bizarre and grim film about four different stories from four different locations in Sweden. The one with the newly renovated hotel with the improper wooden figure of an old finance minister is absolutely the best of the four, odd story about love or career. I would love to see all four as a film on their own they can be so much more extended. Also the unique pause in the middle is something I've never seen before.Can't wait for the series (if they're doing one) or the extended DVD. Apparently they had cut out a lot to fit it in to just 3,5 hours.

jono_nath The English title should be added to IMDb: how can that be done? I saw Four Shades of Brown (with English subtitles) in CopenhagenA wonderful mix of brownish-black humour and, amid the playfulness, a good dose of wistful melancholy - this film captures a particular (and compelling) view of Swedish life today, better than any other film in recent years. The subtle ironies and rather self-conscious social commentary will probably be lost on those who have not lived in Sweden or had a fair bit of contact here.It's hard to know how enjoyable these four stories would be to someone who knows little about Sweden and contemporary Swedish-ness. In might help, for example, to enjoy the comic artistry of Robert Gustafsson, without having in mind his many appearances on Swedish TV. But in some ways, this background is the main point. One of the film's triumphs is Gustafsson's love-hate light-dark creation of the everyday absurdities of `normal' family life here. If you don't recognise the humour in the use of regional accents, for example, you'll be missing a lot of the fun.Nevertheless, Four Shades has plenty to offer anyone willing to think outside their own set of cultural references. At least a couple of the storylines are, in themselves, quite captivating.Don't be put off the title. If you're looking for pretty images of Sweden, the opening shots alone will satisfy. Personally I was pleased that at least it finally rained at the beachside hotel, one morning. Presumably SVT (Swedish public service TV) will show this gem within a year or two. Surely!? It's a big shame that it doesn't seem to be getting much of a run in the Swedish cinemas.[This is my first review for IMDb - jono_nath AT hotmail DOT-U-know-what :-]