When I grow weary of the pressures of city life, I like to entertain myself with visions of moving to a commune. Extended leisure time, free love, whiling the nights away with red wine and passionate conversation - for anyone chained to the rat race it’s an attractive proposition, but these visions of a hassle-free existence live in a land where the rules of basic human nature fail to apply. Cramming ten people into a low-rent house is a recipe for disaster, as good intentions inevitably crumble beneath the weight of conflicting ideologies, the lure of life’s little luxuries and garden-variety jealousy.

This is exactly what happens in Together, the second feature from Swedish writer/director Lukas Moodysson. The year is 1975, and while the rest of the world is doing its best to consign the hippie movement to the dustbin of history a loose collection of hard-core nature-lovers are getting back to basics on a suburban commune. When the film opens their atmosphere of mutual respect has already begun to disintegrate – the mild-mannered Göran (Gustaf Hammarsten) is grappling with his girlfriend’s attraction for another housemate, while Anna (Jessica Liedberg) and Lasse (Ola Norell) spend their time engaging in petty sniping after a recent break-up. Matters are complicated by the arrival of Göran’s sister Elisabeth (Lisa Lindgren) and her two children, who abandon their comfortable existence to escape the alcoholic Rolf (Michael Nyqvist).

Of course, any film with a soundtrack that features ABBA and a version of Love Hurts by Nazareth shouldn’t be taken too seriously, and I’d hate to give potential viewers the impression that they’re in for another long dark night of the soul. It’s a film you can watch on whatever level your mood dictates, secure in the knowledge that you’ll be spending time with involving characters, accomplished performers and a narrative packed with humour and insight. It’ll have you thinking twice about chucking the job and catching the first bus to Nimbin, but when it’s over the daily grind might just seem like a reasonable alternative.

Excerpt from the ECritic website found here