Becoming Astrid

When Astrid Lindgren had her first work published at the age of 37, it marked the beginning of a literary adventure few can match. Today, Lindgren is celebrated around the world as the author of famous characters such as Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, and many others. In Becoming Astrid we get a chance to meet the budding writer long before her first publications, and instead follow her through her youth in the Swedish region of Småland. The film is a concentrated portrait which doesn’t aim to depict an entire lifetime in one feature film; rather, it explores a handful of years slower and in more depth. As such, the story becomes highly engaging.

The title role is brilliantly portrayed by Alba August. Alongside her are, amongst others, Maria Bonnevie and Henrik Rafaelsen. The three of them all received nominations for the Swedish Guldbagge award for their work on the film. While the acting might be the absolute highlight of the film, that does not mean there’s a shortage of quality elsewhere. The costume and production designs respectively makes the journey back into the early 1900s an effortless one, and the script offers touching and funny scenes in abundance. Young Astrid Lindgren was a solid representative of girl power!