More than 20 years ago, Lukas Moodysson directed the Swedish comedy Together: set in 1975, it was about a bunch of hippies living in a Stockholm commune on a diet of chickpeas and porridge. The film gently poked fun at the hopeless lefties – failing at open relationships, never quite managing to live up to their ideals – and it was hard to know which was woollier, their jumpers or their politics. Now comes a slightly disappointing sequel set 24 years later, featuring the same cast, but lower levels of warmth and affection. It’s a less lovable film; it is directed, I felt, with a bit of a sneer.
The year is 1999. The population of the commune has dwindled to two men: bearded Göran (Gustaf Hammarsten) and gentle-souled artist Klasse (Shanti Roney). They call themselves a commune, but really the pair are more like flatmates (they got kicked out of the last commune for not being vegan). Then, one summer afternoon, Klasse gets the old gang back together, throwing a surprise 53rd birthday party for Göran.
