The story is about a preadolescent boy whose mother sends him to live with relatives in the late 1950's. On the outset it appears the boy and his brother, who is sent elsewhere, are too difficult for their mother to handle which is why she sends them away. At some point, it's revealed the mother is very ill, but I can't remember if that fact is revealed early or later in the film.
Ingemar, who if memory serves is the younger of the two brothers, is sent to live with his maternal uncle and his wife in a rural town. There is not really a "plot" per se, typical of a lot of European movies. Instead, Ingemar meets a bunch of eccentric characters, some in the uncle's family, others who are close friends.
One character is Saga, a girl about Ingemar's age, who is very much a tomboy. She likes to engage in boxing. Ingemar reluctantly agrees to let the girl box him in a small ring. And he starts to become fond of her. Part of the story is the beginning Ingemar's sexual awakening.
Also there's a recurring "theme" concerning a funny polka song the uncle likes to play on a little record player. It's originally a British novelty song called "I Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", and a version in Swedish is what's on the record-single. The wife hates the song, but the uncle keeps playing it!
There's also the older "grandfather", the wife's father (I think), who compels Ingemar to read from some "interesting" magazines. Not exactly pornographic but it has texts and pictures of a slightly fascinating nature for the average hereto male Swede!
I believe "My Life as a Dog" is actually a very charming film, but certainly not for all American tastes, and not plot-driven. It's a kind of character study of these funny people living not terribly remarkable lives. That said, as we get to know them, they are remarkable in very understated ways. I came away sort of caring for these kooky but kind of lovable characters. It is very European in the sense of being fairly understated but ultimately uplifting, which you don't find in a lot of European films of this sort.
Ingemar, who if memory serves is the younger of the two brothers, is sent to live with his maternal uncle and his wife in a rural town. There is not really a "plot" per se, typical of a lot of European movies. Instead, Ingemar meets a bunch of eccentric characters, some in the uncle's family, others who are close friends.
One character is Saga, a girl about Ingemar's age, who is very much a tomboy. She likes to engage in boxing. Ingemar reluctantly agrees to let the girl box him in a small ring. And he starts to become fond of her. Part of the story is the beginning Ingemar's sexual awakening.
Also there's a recurring "theme" concerning a funny polka song the uncle likes to play on a little record player. It's originally a British novelty song called "I Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", and a version in Swedish is what's on the record-single. The wife hates the song, but the uncle keeps playing it!
There's also the older "grandfather", the wife's father (I think), who compels Ingemar to read from some "interesting" magazines. Not exactly pornographic but it has texts and pictures of a slightly fascinating nature for the average hereto male Swede!
I believe "My Life as a Dog" is actually a very charming film, but certainly not for all American tastes, and not plot-driven. It's a kind of character study of these funny people living not terribly remarkable lives. That said, as we get to know them, they are remarkable in very understated ways. I came away sort of caring for these kooky but kind of lovable characters. It is very European in the sense of being fairly understated but ultimately uplifting, which you don't find in a lot of European films of this sort.