AllMovie

Colin Nutley produced, directed and adapted for the screen H.E. Bates' short story "The Little Farm" about an older man's romantic awakening in the mid-1950's. Olof (Rolf Lassgard) is a 40-year-old virgin who has lived alone on his family's farm in Western Sweden since the death of his mother nine years before. His only friend is a 27-year-old ex-sailor named Erik (Johan Widerberg), who brags about his success with women and takes advantage of Olof's generous nature. When Olof places a newspaper ad for a housekeeper, an attractive older woman named Ellen (Helena Bergstrom) responds, and both Olof and Erik are immediately drawn to her. Ellen, however, grows to love Olof and distrust Erik, and Erik is determined to find out what would bring her to a run-down farm in the middle of nowhere. Under Solen is notable for the performances of its three leads and the photography of Jens Fischer; leading actress Bergstrom is also director Nutley's wife.