Nothing new, except that it was in Swedish with bits of Italian. The little sub-plots were cliched but done well, with style. Good, but not five star material.

This is quite a belated review but I am amazed I had never heard of this movie prior to last night. It blew my cynical and jaded socks off. I realise I have been lulled into a kind of brainwashed chimp expecting certain plotlines and reactions from watching too many American films even the ones which aren't blockbusters. It seems there is a code of what is appropriate subject matter which is just never broached. Not so in this Swedish masterpiece. Normally American films build towards one and only one emotional denouement or climax but this one was emotionally affecting at 10 minute intervals throughout the whole thing. I've never seen so much human sweat, blood, tears and lack of grooming used to such good effect. It kept the viewer grounded in a healthy reality. I notice some reviewers shut down due to the constant barrage of emotionality but it was worth putting the cynicism on hold for this one. It was only slightly marred by the ending but what a testament to its overall value that it still rates 5 stars from so many (including me)

I watched this great movie on DVD at home, thank God as I had a lot of sadness and joy tears. If this had been made in Hollywood it would have received best picture, best actor and best support actor although with all the different religious beliefs in the states, who knows?

You can watch this movie many times and get some different meanings and beliefs about people and our great universe.

I can understand one of the reviews below that said it was boring as they are obviously unaware of what is happening around them in their daily lives.

Great movie, I am now going back to watch it one more time before taking it back to the video shop.

I have seen this film twice now. the first time i saw it i was amazed that i had such feelings inside me and at the end i didnt know if i was crying because i was sad or happy.

But it is the first foreign film i have seen that everyone waits till the final credit comes up before exiting as i think everyone is wiping there eyes. Even the second time i saw this film it had the same effect. i have talk to people who have seen it 3 and 4 times and love it even more.

As someone who has had to make severe life changes to live with two newly diagnosed major diseases. I've been inspired by this movie and in a sense found some understanding in how to go about living the rest of my life the best way that I possibly can.

While the movie won't appeal to everyone and it isn't a Hollywood blockbuster - it carries an important message for all, that one should never hold back in life.

Most powerful film I have seen for some time. Everybody should take time out to see, especially people in that situation - it will give them hope

I saw this film last weekend with my Mother, who is dying of cancer. I was so touched by the stories within the movie and felt grateful to have found a film that has been made to move its audience, not just to make money. The lead actor was astonishing - he has few words of dialogue, yet he conveys so much meaning with his face and body. For those who are unsure of whether there is an afterlife or a God, it is comforting to know that there is love and music and peace to be found, in life and in death.

It speaks right to the heart!!!!

I just saw "As It Is in Heaven" this afternoon at Paradiso.

A wonderful film and not cliched at all. The foibles and bigotries of life, as well as the harsh truths of domestic violence and the cowardice that afflicts most of us when courageous action is required in the face of violence or exploitation are very much a part of this film. The movie certainly makes a case for courage and understanding, but it doesn't preach.

Michael Nyqvist is outstanding, as is the entire cast. The countryside of Sweden and the small triumphs, sadness and pettiness that can be so much a part of life in a remote community is delightfully captured.

This is a life-affirming movie with very few off notes and a lot to say about the fragility of life in this universe of ours. Like all good films, it made me look up and look out at what is around us.

A brilliant movie - in this age of big blockbusters this simple movie touches the heart. The essential emotions are dealt with and overflow into the audience.

Pleasantly surprised.

Confronting, challenging, uplifting and emotionally exhausting at times. It is absolutely superb. It is not often that a movie keeps you thinking for weeks after the event. It has now been more than two weeks since I have seen it and it still occupies my thoughts. By the end of the movie I felt like I had a personal connection with the characters (and I also felt like I could speak Swedish). At the end of the movie the audience sat and reflected on what they had seen. Do yourself a favour and see this film.

The fact that this movie has been on at the cinemas eight months says it all, when most movies are gone within a month! I have never seen such an inspiring and powerful movie. So many sub-stories, each with a powerful message! My girlfriend and I talked about it all the way through dinner afterwards. It gripped me so amazingly as it did everyone else who saw it with me. There were tears and spontaneous applause at the end. Well worth watching again and again and again!

I fell in love with the actor. Yes. I have never seen such a handsome man last years. Sorry for this review, so simple but I can't with my romantic condition.

Don't be rushing to see this movie thinking that it's going to change your life. It’s not that kind of a movie.

Consider this movie's impact from this perspective. Someone comes to town, and their behaviour causes everyone else to examine theirs.

There's some good singing. Particularly in the end. There's some good soap, a la Swedish-style. But overall it's just a movie with a pleasant aspect and a good story and a good finale.

Funny, that the one thing that struck me as really unusual about this movie was that in the final scenes of the movie the choir travelled to Austria for a singing competition. So we get to see scenes from some Austrian town. The thought that struck me is how quaint and beautiful this small town is, and what I couldn't figure out is how did a miserable piece of crap like Hitler come from such a lovely country. Go figure.

I have seen it four times! Simply the most wonderful movie I have seen for a good while.

This movie is life-changing, life-expanding, life-motivating. A well-balanced mixture of love, passion, sadness, hypocrisy and everything in between. The music and scenery are beautiful and the characters are outstanding. It's worth the time to go and watch as each visit you will get something new out of it.

I can't believe I saw the same film as everyone else who has posted a review here. I was really keen to see this after the glowing reviews. Boy what a disappointment! It was just two hours of melodramatic cliche and stereotype. Disjointed editing, poor characterisation and a really saccharine plot that left me completely unmoved. I love a feel good flick as much as the next person - this one was just cringeworthy. All I felt was bored.

One star - begrudgingly.

This long, feel good movie uses every small town character stereotype in the book. This plot is really a series of melodramatic outbursts followed by some type of weird, cult-ish, choral redemption punctuated by coffee and cakes and smiles all round. Unless you want to watch an overly soppy panorama of meaningful looks and a cacophony of caterwauling nutcases I would not recommend this movie to anyone.

This movie is about liberation of the heart, the mind and the spirit. It is quite simply one of the best movies I've ever seen. And when at the end of the movie a packed cinema breaks into spontaneous applause it cannot be denied that it touched everyone who saw it.

This is one of the best movies ever made. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of the human condition in stark reality. I had heard of this movie through friends who had seen it and I am now telling everyone I know about it.

Can't get any better! Best film I have ever seen - and I've seen many hundreds. A group of us went to this film together and afterwards every comment from each individual in the group was filled with praise. My husband usually likes to escape to fantasy, action, comedy films etc. However, he would like to see this drama again and so do I.

This must be the most moving film I have seen for years. It surpassed all I had read and expected of it and took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions along with being uplifting, real, credible and thoroughly human. It portrayed such a range of believable people who plumbed the depths of emotions and endeared themselves by their flaws as well as their incredible goodness and sense of compassion. It does me good to have a good cry and I know I was not alone as I looked around and saw people still in their seats as the credits rolled through. The kind of movie I could see again and again and still find freshness and inspiration. Utterly but poignantly triumphant!

Loved every moment of the movie - the fantastic landscape shots and the way the story was told. Best of all, was the very nice ending that showed the true human spirit.

I can echo every word of the user reviews, especially Geoff P's review. This was a truly amazing film! It is also the first time ever that I would not have minded seeing a repeat of it IMMEDIATELY after the first viewing! AWESOME. I cried terribly! But mostly for the beauty of it!

There are many confronting themes such as bullying, religious bigotry, cruelty and repression, which are eliminated progressively as the choir transforms themselves and their relationships through the power of song. There is an enigmatic ending for the flawed hero. A superb film charged with emotion. Take a box of tissues.

A rare treat. Celebration of love, damning of bullying in all its guises, acceptance of the imperfect and illustration of ordinary people through the vehicle of a choir achieving much more than might be expected. Cinemagoers at the session I attended sat transfixed while the credits rolled.

My friend Judy took me to see this movie - it was her third time! Thank you to the Blue Room. Everything about this movie was superb - casting, acting, scenery, cinema - so many ordinary people, so many ordinary situations dealt with extraordinarily!!!

For 25 years, another film remained unchallenged as my all-time number one. Then, last Saturday, I watched "As It Is In Heaven", and all that changed. For me, this film was a magical and deeply moving experience. Unlike most of the dross served up by Hollywood these days, this film looks beyond the superficiality of our external lives and reaches down into the hidden self within ourselves and grabs it and shakes it. In the process, it miraculously avoids all the schmaltz pitfalls it could have fallen into, and leads utterly convincingly to an unforgettable finale of beauty and humanity. This is no trip into darkness or down 'Sugar Coat Lane' - this is a powerful, life-affirming voyage into the light. The quite outstanding performances by every actor, the honesty of the portrayals, the spread of characters and the reality in everything they say and do makes this film a complete massage for the soul. At the end, no one in the cinema moved until the end of the credits. Then someone clapped and everyone joined in. I have not been able to stop thinking about it for three days. If ever a film had the power to change one's life, I believe this would be it. Fabulous!

This would have to be one of the best films I have seen in a long time. This movie made me want to cry but gave me goosebumps at the same time unlike some of the mediocre films coming out of Hollywood is producing these days. I can't say enough about how good this movie is. A must see!

What a beautiful film! I have seen it two times and once in Sydney. Thank you to the Blue Room Cinema for bringing these gems to Brisbane.

One of the best movies made... refreshingly meaningful to most people. It has a soul and power to make you want to return and enjoy it again and surely gain even more from it.

The Swedish, like the French, often explore the deeper meaning of life and it is done in a refreshingly honest way.

Hopefully more films may learn from this great experience.

This movie has a soul and it is by far one of the best movies I've seen! Acting, directing, editing, story, overall execution - fantastic. Characters are real which is so refreshing in today's slate of film. Could see it again and again.

This is a superb movie. I have seen it twice in three weeks and enjoyed it even more the second time.

The acting, casting, direction, editing and story line left nothing to be desired. But it was more than that. The human spirituality of the film was demonstrated throughout, culminating in an amazingly uplifting finale.

In this film so much was revealed - the life robbing consequences of narrow mindedness and jealousy and the liberating effect of music and love.

I could see it again and again. My favourite film.

I have not seen a better film since "Breaking the Waves". A breathtakingly honest look at what it means to be alive and flawed and human. A deeply moving film experience. As with any musical masterpiece it builds from silence to majesty and flows back again with superb performances that leave you spellbound. I can't rate this high enough. Leave your cynicism at the door, and prepare to connect with a fresh and life-giving film.

One of the best Swedish movies ever. Deep, authentically naive, gives a glimpse of what life is about.