80
A moving love story with two exquisite central performances.
We hate to say it, but we can't find anywhere to view this film.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
August, who also made "Pelle the Conqueror" and "House of the Spirits," steers this story to its stirring conclusion with firm lack of sentimentality.
70
A touching examination of the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, made even more so by the extraordinary chemistry between Swedish actor Sven Wollter and his real-life wife, Viveka Seldahl, who died shortly after the film was completed.
80
Scenes from a marriage unfolding at the limits of love and personality.
50
New York Post by Megan Lehmann
This slow-moving Swedish film offers not even a hint of joy, preferring to focus on the humiliation of Martin as he defecates in bed and urinates on the plants at his own birthday party.
70
Film Threat by Michael Dequina
August so firmly establishes characters of Martin and Barbara and their relationship, so when the disease does enter the picture, the film does not suddenly become about that; the focus clearly remains on the effect it takes on the people.
88
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
Starts at the beginning and goes straight through to the inevitable end, unblinkingly. It doesn't relieve the pressure, as "Iris" does, with flashbacks to happier days.
70
The New York Times by Stephen Holden
Watching it, I kept imagining the depth of feeling Ingmar Bergman and his troupe might have brought to the same material. As much as A Song for Martin hurts, it doesn't quite go the distance.
60
Only August's assured direction and the leads' solid performances elevate this above a TV "disease of the week" movie.