80 years since the premiere of "For Little Märta"
On September 29, 1945, Hasse Ekman's comedy classic "Fram för lilla Märta" premiered at the Astoria cinema in Stockholm. Eighty years later, this beloved Swedish farce remains a timeless gem that challenges gender roles, politics and societal norms with humor and satire.
A man in a skirt – and the Riksdag
The plot follows the unemployed musician Sture Letterström (Stig Järrel), who, dressed as "Märta Sofia Letterström", joins a women's orchestra to get a job. Together with his friend Kurre (Hasse Ekman), he ends up in Lillköping, where Märta quickly becomes a local celebrity and gets involved in a women's association. Through comical twists and turns, she becomes a candidate for parliament - and wins. In parliament, Märta proposes the strange "wife law", which confuses and delights those around her. The film begins and ends in 2006, with an aged Sture telling the Märta story to his great-grandson at a statue in Lillköping.
Behind the camera
Directed and written by Hasse Ekman, with music by Sune Engström (under the pseudonym Sune Waldimir) and photography by Hilding Bladh, the film was produced by Terrafilm.
A timeless tribute to courage
Eighty years later, "Fram för lilla Märta" stands as a testament to Swedish film's courage to push boundaries – with laughter, skirts and an unexpected parliamentary mandate. It entertains while reminding us of the courage to step into someone else's shoes, if only for a moment.
A bold move for its time
In 1945, it was groundbreaking to portray a man in women's clothing with both humor and respect, and the film raised questions about gender and power long before "gender" became an accepted concept. Märta, who is actually Sture, becomes a symbol for questioning and renegotiating roles.
A mirror of past and present
Reflecting its time and ours, the film shows how humor about gender and politics illuminates both progress and still-current issues. It proves that identity and representation have long been part of the public discourse.
A piece of film history
Knowing the film "Fram för lilla Märta" connects us to Sweden's film heritage, where creativity both entertains and provokes. For today's audience, it offers an entry point to explore gender, disguise, power and the role of humor as a tool for change. In today's debate about gender identity and norm criticism, "Fram för lilla Märta" feels unexpectedly relevant and connects past and present with its bold, witty perspective.
Stig Järrel as Märta on this charming coffee mug will make your coffee time unique.
