An adaptation of four autobiographical novels by Swedish author Eyvind Johnson, the 168-minute Here Is Your Life represents an ambitious debut feature from Jan Troell. Set in rural northern Sweden circa 1914, the film follows the coming-of-age of Olof Persson (Eddie Axberg). The film moves at a slow, leisurely pace. However, it’s so beautiful to look at you can’t help but get swept up in the whole thing.

Forced to live with foster parents because of his own father’s illness, now fourteen, Olof must search for work. Given his rather meager upbringing, Olof is destined to become one of the many who toil away at meager jobs just to earn enough money to survive. He finds work logging on a river which eventually leads to his next job at a sawmill. Conditions are rough and death is a constant threat in these pre-union workplaces, but Olof finds a sense of solidarity with his co-workers. They are largely older men who will teach him lessons that will help guide him into adulthood. Girls and romance come into the picture when Olof lands a job at a movie theater. Through the years, Olof will have his share of lovers both his age and older; the sporadic presence of of forty-something Olivia (Bergman veteran Ulla Sjöblom), queen of the shooting gallery, provides some of the film’s most unforgettable moments.

Unlike most coming-of-age stories, Here Is Your Life isn’t about Olof going to school and learning s tough life lesson that will serve him in the larger world. Here is Your Life is about a young man who had to grow up quickly and decide what he doesn’t want to be in life. With the world engaged in the Great War, Olof realizes he’s the product of a dying era. He’s been raised to fit into a world that no longer exists. With little in the way of choices, Olof must adjust his attitude and way of thinking, or risk not finding a place in the world.

Directed in a slow and thoughtful manner, Jan Troell does a wonderful job of taking the viewer right along with Olof as he grows and learns new things that will change his perspective. While there are a couple slightly dull patches during the films nearly three hour runtime, it seems appropriate, because parts of growing up are…dull. All and all though, the film is a vivid and emotional portrayal of growing up poor during World War I. Also, Max Von Sydow shows up in one scene and that’s never a bad thing.

Criterion’s new 2K digital restoration, presented in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio in 1080p is excellent. It has a very pleasing grain structure throughout that serves to highlight the black and white photography. The few sections of colors are rather vivid. The image is sharp, showcasing nice detail in both medium and long range shots. Black levels are lush.

The LPCM Mono track is workmanlike. There isn’t much in the way of depth, but dialogue is clean and clear. The score by Erik Nordgren won’t blow you away, but it does sound fine.

English subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • Introduction by Filmmaker Mike Leigh: (HD, 4:41) Leigh explains his admiration for the film.
  • Jan Troell In Conversation with Peter Cowie: (HD, 33:48) Troell discusses his early days in film, changes in Swedish film production that helped make Here is Your Life
  • New Interview with Eddie Axberg: (HD, 15:47) Eddie Axberg, just seventeen when Here Is Your Life was filmed, reflects on how he became involved with the project.
  • New Interview with Bengt Forslund: (HD, 14:55) The screenwriter/producer discusses how he got into making short movies and industrial films and the challenges of adapting the novel Romanen Om Olof by Eyvind Johnson into a screenplay.
  • Short Film Interlude in the Marshland (1965): (HD, 30:10) Directed by Troell, starring Max Von Sydow, and based on a short story by Eyvind Johnson.
  • Leaflet: Featuring an essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu about the film.