Inga Lindström: Mia und ihre Schwestern (2009)

Mia Högberg works as a freelance photographer in Stockholm and lives alone with her dog, Silas. She has two older sisters. Anna is married to Jan Bergmann, works as a lawyer, and has a daughter, Clara. Agneta is also single and has just found out that she is pregnant. Mia tries to persuade her sisters to visit their mother in the countryside again. Jan has agreed to go with his family, but Agneta does not want to come because she first needs to get her life in order. Anna is caught off guard when Jan tells her about the trip. She declines because she urgently has work to do at the law firm. So Mia, Jan, and Clara go to Marianne’s alone. On the ferry, they run into Agneta, who has now changed her mind after all. When they arrive at their mother’s, they are surprised by how many people are there. Marianne prepares young musicians and singers for their entrance auditions at her house. She is being helped by Frans Rosen, a music producer from Oslo. He is also her partner and recently proposed to her. His introduction to the family is accordingly awkward, since Marianne does not mention any of this. Because every room in the house is occupied, Marianne puts the family up at Frederik Johannsen’s house. He is an old school friend of Mia’s and was once in love with her. When Agneta suddenly feels sick, Mia realizes that her older sister is pregnant. But Agneta does not know whether she should have the child, since it was conceived in an affair with a married man. While Mia is taking pictures of the young talents, she catches her mother kissing Frans. She is quite shocked and talks to Jan about it. Both Agneta and Jan try to reassure Mia: after all, her mother is an adult and can do what she wants. When Jan is going to bed that evening, Silas is lying in it and refuses to be moved. Jan therefore goes looking for Mia and finds her on the terrace. They talk about this and that and grow close enough to kiss. Anna does manage to decide to visit after all, and is overjoyed to see her sisters. Jan doubts whether the visit can still save his marriage, and he cannot get Mia out of his head. Even so, he wants to give Anna another chance. Marianne is planning to give up the house and move to Oslo to be with Frans. But she does not know what should become of the house. Anna visits her mother, who has an uncanny sense that her daughter is troubled. Anna confesses to Marianne that she had an affair with another man. Mia has received an assignment from her agency to take some pictures of the harbor. There she runs into Jan by chance. They spontaneously go for a ride in a motorboat. He is still hurt because Anna cheated on him. He finds comfort in making out with Mia. Even so, Jan later takes a trip with Anna. Meanwhile, Mia meets up with Frederik. She talks to him about her impossible relationship with Jan. Anna confesses to Jan that she cannot imagine life without him. Agneta runs into her mother by chance, and her mother encourages her to have the baby. Mia talks to Jan again and makes it clear that she cannot have a relationship with her sister’s husband. Marianne and Frans invite the whole family to dinner. At last, they announce that they are going to get married. Mia is happy for her mother, while Anna expresses her doubts. She is equally surprised that they plan to move to Oslo. The daughters agree that Marianne must not sell the house. Anna runs off to the kitchen, and Jan follows her. They have to acknowledge that their marriage is over. Later, Jan meets Mia by the lake. They kiss again and spend the night together. The next morning, Anna and Clara notice that Mia and Jan are missing. Clara has already realized that things are not going well in her parents’ relationship, but Agneta allays her concerns. When Jan returns, he talks things through with Anna. It now seems final that they have grown apart. Jan wants to return to Stockholm; he can no longer stand being there. Before he leaves, he confesses his love to Mia, and she tells him she loves him too. Anna finds Jan’s phone, which he had been missing. She reads a text message from him to Mia. She then confronts her sister. While jogging, Mia runs into her mother. She confesses that she has always been in love with Jan, but gave him up for her sister’s sake. Anna has also returned to Stockholm and reproaches her husband. He tries to soothe her, but Anna realizes that Jan has been lying to her for some time about their marriage. Agneta has put an end to her affair and goes to her mother to tell her that she wants to take over the house. She also wants to persuade Mia and Anna to support her. Mia apologizes to Anna, but still needs more time. Even so, the whole family is reunited and looks forward to the future in the new home.