In the late '50s, young Ingemar learns a lot about life and himself when he is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle in a town full of eccentrics.In the late '50s, young Ingemar learns a lot about life and himself when he is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle in a town full of eccentrics.In the late '50s, young Ingemar learns a lot about life and himself when he is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle in a town full of eccentrics.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 15 wins & 5 nominations total
- Ingemars mamma
- (as Anki Liden)
- Berit
- (as Ing-Mari Carlsson)
- Farbror Sandberg
- (as Leif Ericsson)
- Mannes farfar
- (as Arnold Alfredson)
- Farbror Arvidsson, Ullas far
- (as Didrik Gustavsson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKurt Vonnegut Jr.'s favorite film, as he writes in his book, Timequake.
- GoofsA part of the helicopter can be seen while Ingmar is sitting on the train down to his uncle for the second time
- Quotes
Ingemar: In fact, I've been kinda lucky. I mean, compared to others. You have to compare, so you can get a little distance from things. Like Laika. She really must have seen things in perspective. It's important to keep a certain distance. I think about that guy who tried to set a world record for jumping over buses with a motorcycle. He lined up 31 buses. If he'd left it at 30, maybe he would have survived.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Cider House Rules: The Making of an American Classic (1999)
- SoundtracksFar, jag kan inte få upp min kokosnöt
(original song title "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts")
Written by Fred Heatherton (joint pseudonym of Elton Box, Desmond Cox and Irwin Dash) (uncredited)
Swedish lyrics by Povel Ramel
Performed by Povel Ramel (uncredited)
Because his mother is dying and his father is off in some other part of the world, he and his brother are split up. Ingemar goes to live with relatives in another town. There he must learn the meaning of the strange things that happen in life. He develops a simple but profound philosophy: no matter what happens to him, "It could have been worse." He even has to deal with the thought that he was not wanted by his parents. He distances himself from the pain in his life by comparing his predicaments to things he has heard about in the great, strange world beyond the little town where he lives.
This is an amusing, quaint film that shows us that life goes on no matter how difficult and hurtful it seems. Not only that, we can smile like the little boy in the face of all adversity.
- How long is My Life as a Dog?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $8,345,266
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,667
- May 3, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $8,349,284