I have seen the tv-series from the 70's when I was little, so I was familiar with the story but I don't remember enough to be able to compare it to the film.

Therefore I went to the cinema with fairly fresh eyes and an open mind. And I was not disappointed! Amanda Jansson does a beautiful portrayal of Maja. She's raw, free, strong and Jansson's talent truly shines through in her interpretation of Maja. Jansson is the heart of this beautiful movie.

The love story is gripping and even though the run time of this movie is quite long at almost 3 hours, I kept my eyes glued to the screen at the beautiful scenery from the Åland islands and the captivating story. It's simply charming and I was very moved by this film. It paints a gripping picture of the harshness of life in the archipelago in the 1800's, letting us follow the lovable Maja, her husband Janne and their family.

The story and editing was a bit choppy in the beginning but once Maja and Janne start their life together, the movie finds its pace. I was moved to tears at multiple parts of the film and I almost didn't want it to end. Looking forward to rewatching it soon.