The story takes place during the autumn term of 1979 at Internatskolan Stora Äng, a venerable girls‑only boarding school housed in a 19th‑century manor surrounded by pine forests and a frozen lake. The six protagonists—Anna, Karin, Maja, Elsa, Sofia, and Lena—come from disparate backgrounds:
| Girl | Background | Key Conflict | |------|------------|--------------| | Anna (17) | Daughter of a Stockholm lawyer; academically ambitious | Pressure to win a scholarship to Uppsala | | Karin (16) | From a small fishing village; shy and introverted | Struggles with homesickness and a secret crush on a male teacher | | Maja (15) | Daughter of a liberal artist; rebellious spirit | Clashes with the headmistress over dress codes | | Elsa (16) | Orphan raised by a distant aunt; stoic | Hides a traumatic past involving a fire at her former home | | Sofia (17) | Daughter of a factory worker; politically active | Organises a protest against the school’s outdated policies | | Lena (15) | From a wealthy family; aspiring musician | Battles parental expectations to become a concert pianist | The story takes place during the autumn term
Through a series of interwoven episodes—late‑night snowball fights, secret midnight trips to the nearby lake, a forbidden love affair with a young teacher, a student‑run newspaper, and an eventual rebellion against the authoritarian headmistress Helena Lund—the girls learn to assert their individuality while forging an unbreakable bond. The film culminates in a daring act of solidarity: the six girls stage a midnight walk‑out, leaving the school grounds together and confronting their futures on their own terms. | Actor / Actress | Role | Notable
| Actor / Actress | Role | Notable Credits | |-----------------|------|-----------------| | Liv Albinsson | Anna | Mannen som blev miljonär (1975) | | Karin Johansson | Karin | Sommarljus (1976) | | Helena Nilsson | Maja | Den stora dagen (1974) | | Sofia Lindqvist | Elsa | Kärlekens tid (1978) | | Eva Berg | Sofia | Det sista steget (1977) | | Maria Söderberg | Lena | Tonårsglädje (1975) | | Göran Ekström | Headmistress Helena Lund | Vintertid (1973) | | Johan Pettersson | Teacher Erik Berg | Människor på vägen (1972) | | Date | Event | |------|-------| | May
The six lead actresses were all under 20 at the time of filming, many of them making their screen debuts. Their authentic performances are often credited with giving the film its raw emotional resonance.
| Date | Event | |------|-------| | May 12, 1979 | Premiere at Stockholm’s Svenska Bio theatre | | June 1979 | Limited theatrical run in regional cinemas across Sweden | | Oct. 1979 | Broadcast on SVT2 (Swedish Television) as part of a youth‑film series | | 1979–80 | Entered the Malmö International Film Festival (won Best Debut Film) |
Send Us a Message:
