Teenaged Astrid Lindgren, the future author of the popular series of ‘Pippi Longstocking’ books, leads a carefree life in 1920s rural Sweden. Eager to break free from her conservative upbringing, she accepts an internship at a local newspaper where she attracts the attention of its married editor. After Astrid becomes pregnant, she leaves home to give birth to a son, whom she reluctantly leaves with a foster mother. When the foster mother falls ill, Astrid uses her imagination and flair for storytelling to reconnect with her child. The young Swedish actress Alba August gives a remarkable performance in the role of Astrid. In Swedish and Danish with subtitles. (123 min)

“Erik Molberg Hansen’s relaxed camera movements and fuzzy-soft compositions are quite beautiful, and the performances — including the superb Trine Dyrholm as the baby’s Danish foster mother — are pitch-perfect. Best of all is the magnetic August, whose open, mobile features can slide from plain to lovely with just a shift in the light and whose embrace of the character is a joy to watch.” – The New York Times, Jeanette Catsoulis