ABBA: The Movie – Two fan days with the Swedish hit band

ABBA: The Movie – The 1970s were a particularly big year for Swedes, with ABBA making the biggest contribution to the success story – this and the success of the Swedish pop band.

ABBA probably needs no introduction: even the youngest of us have heard of them with at least half an ear, and those who are fans of either the band or the Eurovision Song Contest – or both – could write novels about them for days.

Although they had already competed in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest at the Swedish national selection show Melodifestivalen 1973, finishing third as an ‘unnamed’ quartet, the following year brought a truly resounding success – both for the newly dubbed ABBA quartet and for the country. (With their 1973 hit “Ring, Ring”, they entered the Melodifestivalen competition under the stage names “Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid”, but in 1974 they became Sweden’s first winners with the gig hit “Waterloo”, a victory that would come 14 years after their Eurovision entry.)

The rise of ABBA on film – ABBA: The Movie

ABBA’s Eurovision performance and victory was the breakthrough that would lead to the band’s unstoppable success to date and the soaring success of the Swedish music industry.

The pop band released albums every year after Ring Ring and Waterloo until 1977, when they travelled half a month to the other side of the world: the Swedish group at the top of their game toured Australia for four shows, playing the Sydney Opera House, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. This tour was documented by director Lasse Hallström, who has directed several of their videos over the years, but this time he was tasked not only with documenting the Australian tour, but also with creating a feature film framework.

ABBA: The Movie – the result is more than a simple concert documentary, it’s a special production. The film naturally includes the best versions of the greatest hits performed during the two weeks, such as “Dancing Queen”, “SOS”, “Name of the Game”, “Waterloo” and “Money, Money, Money”, but also the evergreen “Mamma Mia” and the specially produced “Get on the Carousel”. Hallström has of course included the obligatory elements of a normal documentary, whether it’s a few snippets from the press conference leading up to the event or a few moments from backstage before the show. But there is also a frame story that mixes genres in itself.

Mockumentary in the documentary

Robert Hughes plays Ashley Wallace, the host of a radio show playing country songs at night, mainly for the truckers who are driving at the time. Although pop music is far from his job and interviewing outside the studio is not part of his job, his boss expects him to meet ABBA because he knows it will be a great conversation that will show the members as people and not superstars – bringing in the similar parts of the docudramas.

But Ashley’s attempts are regularly thwarted, either by her delays or by the band’s bodyguard, so she’s better off addressing the fans. I mean, staying in character as the real thing, almost pioneering the sacrificial documentary genre for its time. Let’s not forget that Borat, perhaps the most emblematic of the genre, was released 29 years after this one(!).

In the light of the above, Hallstörm’s directorial approach was indeed interesting, essentially merging 4 film styles into one, while keeping this sometimes slapstick comedy framework coherent throughout. Perhaps the only flaw is that the scenes, shot in Sweden, are spectacularly different from the Australian setting.

ABBA: The Movie – Back on the big screen!

In addition to the restored version of the film, there will be a few extras in the subtitled screening, which, in addition to rare ’77 footage, will give you a glimpse into the Abba museum and the Voyage concert series currently running.

The screenings will take place at international fan events, but the programme is only two days long: ABBA: The Movie will be screened in selected cinemas on 17 and 19 September 2023.

Source: ABBATheMovie.com, ABBA, Pannónia Entertainment
Illustration: Pannónia Entertainment