A Serious Game (2016)

Once upon a time, Lydia was an innocent maiden, the daughter of a local painter, whose world was confined within the picturesque archipelago. She captured the heart of Arvid, a young, ambitious journalist, or so he believed. Was it true love, or was it just Arvid's romanticized notion of an ideal, untarnished love, the kind of love that poets write about and lovers yearn for? As Arvid's ambition to ascend from his social roots and make a significant mark in the world intensifies, it gradually eclipses his commitment to their relationship, causing love to silently slip away. A decade elapses and fate brings them back into each other's orbits, only this time, they're both tethered to different partners. The flame of their past love reignites, leading them down the clandestine path of an affair, forcing them to confront the reality of the time that has passed, the people they have evolved into, and the chasm that now separates their worlds. The repercussions of their forbidden love are as unpredictable as the course of love itself. Under the mastery of Lone Scherfig, this celebrated narrative from the annals of Swedish literature unfolds into an emotive, humorous, and sensuous saga. It explores the labyrinth of love's complexities against the enchanting backdrop of Stockholm at the turn of the century, painting a poignant portrait of heartbreak and desire.

A Serious Game is a drama movie featuring Sven Nordin and directed by Pernilla August.

A Serious Game is currently streaming on Viaplay.