Beartown (TV series)

This article is about the 2020 television series. For the 2016 novel it was based on, see Beartown (novel).
Beartown
Promotional poster
SwedishBjörnstad
GenreDrama
Based onBeartown by Fredrik Backman
Written by
  • Anders Weidemann
  • Antonia Pyk
  • Linn Gottfridsson
Directed byPeter Gronlund
Starring
  • Ulf Stenberg
  • Miriam Ingrid
  • Oliver Dufåker
ComposerJohan Testad
Country of originSweden
Original languageSwedish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes5
Production
CinematographyPetrus Sjövik
Running time46–61 minutes
Production companyFilmlance International
Original release
NetworkHBO Nordic
ReleaseOctober 18 (2020-10-18) –
November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08)

Beartown (Swedish: Björnstad) is a five-episode 2020 Swedish drama series directed by Peter Grönlund. Based on Fredrik Backman's 2016 novel of the same name, the story centers on a violent incident between two teenagers in a rural, hockey-obsessed town in Northern Sweden. The series examines the social and ethical fallout from the assault. The novel was adapted for television by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, and Linn Gottfridsson. Beartown features an ensemble cast, led by Ulf Stenberg, Miriam Ingrid, and Oliver Dufåker. The first two episodes of Beartown premiered October 18, 2020 on HBO Nordic, with the last three being released weekly until November 8, 2020. The series also had a North American release via Max on February 22, 2021. It received positive reviews from both Swedish and international critics, with praise given to the adaptation of Backman's novel, Grönlund's direction, and the performances of the cast.

Premise

Adapted from Fredrik Backman's Beartown, the series follows NHL star Peter Andersson (Ulf Stenberg), who moves with his family back to his hockey-obsessed hometown in Northern Sweden after a personal tragedy. In the titular Beartown, hockey is not just a sport but a way of life, and the team's success is crucial to their future economic prospects. Under pressure to get results, Peter begins coaching the youth hockey team, which relies on the talent and star power of Kevin Erdahl (Oliver Dufåker). As Peter works to develop the team around each member's individual strengths, he clashes with Kevin's father Mats (Tobias Zilliacus), who has held a grudge against him since they were teenagers. Further complicating matters, Peter's daughter Maya (Miriam Ingrid) develops a mutual attraction with Kevin. The team secures an important victory, giving them a shot at a national title. The town erupts into hopeful celebration, but right before the championship game, a violent act comes to light, throwing both the team and the town itself into chaos. In the aftermath, everyone — players, coaches, parents, and bystanders — must decide where they stand, weighing their own moral codes against their own internalized beliefs and fears about the community's future.

Cast

  • Ulf Stenberg as Peter Andersson
  • Miriam Ingrid as Maya Andersson
  • Oliver Dufåker as Kevin Erdahl
  • Aliette Opheim as Mira Andersson
  • Tobias Zilliacus as Mats Erdahl
  • Jacob Nordenson as Sune
  • Tomas Bergström as David
  • Charlotta Jonsson as Maggan Lyt
  • Otto Fahlgren as Benji Ovich
  • Alfons Nordberg as William Lyt
  • Erik Lundqvist as Bobo
  • Rasmus Karlsson as Filip
  • Najdat Rustom as Amat
  • Sanna Niemi as Ana
  • Lukas Wetterberg as Leo
  • Einar Bredefelt as Niklas Lyt
  • Frida Sandberg as Nicki
  • Hans Blomberg as Robban
  • Helen Al-Janabi as Fatima

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Peter GronlundAnders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, Linn Gottfridsson18 October 2020 (2020-10-18)
In a flashforward, a person with a rifle chases another through a snowy forest. In the present, former NHL player Peter returns to his struggling hometown of Beartown with his wife Mira, daughter Maya, and son Leo, mourning the loss of their youngest, Isak. Peter hopes to revive Beartown’s fortunes by coaching hockey. Though assigned the senior team, he is disappointed by their lack of talent and insists on coaching the juniors after spotting a star player in Kevin. Kevin’s strict father Mats, a powerful local businessman, resents Peter due to a conflict in their youth. Longtime coach Sune warns that Kevin will either reach the NHL or break under pressure. Meanwhile, Maya befriends Ana at school and develops a crush on Kevin, who confides in Benji about liking Maya. Benji, the team's enforcer, is secretly in love with Kevin. Peter replaces David as head coach of the juniors and reshapes the team around each player's individual strengths. After a heated argument about Peter, Mats leaves Kevin in the cold. A search party later finds him frostbitten but safe. Under Peter’s leadership, the juniors earn a surprise victory. In the final scene, it is revealed that Maya was the one chasing Kevin with a rifle in the opening scene.
2"Episode 2"Peter GronlundAnders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, Linn Gottfridsson18 October 2020 (2020-10-18)
Kevin receives attention from girls at school due to his hockey talents, but is more interested in Maya, even though she cares more for music than sports. Kevin invites her to the upcoming semi-final. The board wants Sune to retire. Peter is furious, but Sune takes the news in stride. He offers Peter a new team member suggestion as a parting gift: Amat, a fast skater who faces racist teasing. He joins the team, but is treated like an outsider. Mats catches Peter practicing outside with Kevin, and says if he sees him in his yard again he will call the police. Before the semi-final, Peter tells the team that if they lose, the arena in Beartown will be closed; he encourages them to put everything into the match. The team wins in part thanks to Amat's speed. Under increasing pressure from his father, Kevin connects with Maya at the post-victory party. He confesses he likes her because she does not just see him as a hockey player. Meanwhile, Benji steals a snowmobile and starts a bar fight, where the boy he is seeing works. At the party, Maya goes to Kevin's room to continue hanging out. They make out, but Maya refuses to have sex. Incensed, Kevin pushes her down and rapes her. Amat interrupts the assault by opening the door.
3"Episode 3"Peter GronlundAnders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, Linn Gottfridsson25 October 2020 (2020-10-25)
Maya struggles with the aftermath of Kevin sexually assaulting her, as the entire town (including her father) celebrates him for leading the juniors team to victory. To distract himself from what he has done, Kevin throws himself into training. Maya fears she will not be believed if she reports him to the police because she was drunk and flirting with him prior to the assault. She also feels the weight of the entire town's hopes and expectations being placed onto Kevin. Peter gives a radio interview about Kevin and their recent win, which Mira listens to at work. Maya confides in Ana about the rape. Maya confronts Kevin at school while secretly recording in an attempt to secure a confession. He sees through her plan, and she leaves empty-handed. After the confrontation, a suspicious Benji asks Kevin what happened, and Kevin says he will tell him after the match. In an apparent olive branch, Mats asks to join them on the team bus instead of driving himself. Right before the team is set to leave for the semi-final, Maya tells her mother about the rape. Peter returns home immediately. They take Maya to the police station. The police pick up Kevin from the bus, leaving the team without their coach and star player for the match.
4"Episode 4"Peter GronlundAnders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, Linn Gottfridsson1 November 2020 (2020-11-01)
The team arrives to the arena and panics about Kevin and Peter's absences. At the police station, Kevin and Maya give formal statements. Kevin claims the sex was consensual. After their interviews, the families run into each other in the lobby, and Peter and Mats attack each other. At the match, Benji gets an early score but is injured by a member of the opposing team. Beartown loses the match, and David tells the players Maya has accused Kevin of rape. When they get home, Mats asks Kevin if he wore a condom and if anyone besides Maya could testify about what happened. Kevin tells him about Amat. Mats tracks Amat down to offer him regular payments until he gets to the NHL, implicitly on the condition of his silence. Amat accepts, knowing how much the money will mean to his single mother. The players, who believe Maya is lying and blame her for their recent loss, go to Peter's house to confront him for his perceived betrayal. Shortly after, someone throws a rock through the family's window, sending broken glass onto Leo's bed. The family is distraught. Alone, Peter looks at videos from the party which show Maya, obviously intoxicated and flirting with Kevin. The board of directors plots to force Peter out of the coaching position by calling a vote.
5"Episode 5"Peter GronlundAnders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, Linn Gottfridsson8 November 2020 (2020-11-08)
Sune warns Peter that the board plans to vote him out. Peter expresses doubt about what happened at the party, sparking a fierce argument with Mira, who feels he does not believe Maya. Having overheard the fight, Maya leaves home. Kevin visits Benji to secure his support. Peter goes to a bar and gets into a fight with men who insult Maya. The bartender criticizes Peter for enabling the toxic hockey culture that led to Maya's assault. While attempting to hitchhike out of town, Maya is harassed. At the vote, a drunken Peter defends Maya. Despite his feelings for Kevin, Benji is the first to turn his back on him after Amat vouches for Maya. Peter keeps his job, as the sponsors want to avoid scandal. Amat is beaten by his teammates for speaking out. When Bobo decides to defend Amat, he is beaten too. A passerby takes them to the hospital. Maya visits Amat to thank him for telling the truth. Mats gets Kevin a hockey opportunity in another town; Kevin is angry with Benji for not wanting to join him. The police decide not to charge Kevin. Maya chases Kevin through the woods with a rifle, but decides to spare him. Mats and Peter arrive to the scene. Peter embraces Maya, but Kevin rejects his father's attempts to comfort him. Some time later, the Anderssons share a meal and reminisce about Isak, while Kevin trains at a new rink alone.

Production

Development and adaptation

In February 2017, Filmlance International had secured the rights to Fredrik Backman's 2016 novel Beartown.[1] Filmlance was best known for its co-production of The Bridge, a popular 2011 Danish-Swedish crime drama which spurred multiple international remakes.[2][3] About two years later, in January 2019, HBO Europe greenlit the television adaptation of Beartown, with direction by Peter Grönlund and writing by Anders Weidemann, Antonia Pyk, and Linn Gottfridsson.[4][5] Ulf Stenberg and Aliette Opheim were also announced as members of the cast.[1]

Beartown was HBO Europe's second Swedish series, after Lukas Moodysson's Gösta in 2019.[6]

Casting

As he did in his previous films Drifters and Goliath, director Peter Grönlund assembled a cast of established actors alongside newcomers who "could relate to the show’s environment and its culture."[7] Hockey experience was also a major consideration during casting, as the series would otherwise require the actors to use stunt doubles and undergo extensive training.[8] Accordingly, those playing hockey team were recruited from Norrbotten and speak with the characteristic dialect of the area. Oliver Dufåker had no acting experience before being cast as Kevin Erdahl, but played junior hockey in Luleå, Boden, and Timrå.[9] Other actors in the series with roots in Northern Sweden include Otto Fahlgren, Charlotta Jonsson, and Einar Bredefelt.[10][11][12] Ulf Stenberg, who played one of the key roles of hockey coach Peter Andersson, was born in Boden and raised in Umeå. Stenberg had previously played hockey, and stated he recognized himself in the character he played. He also noted that the locker room talk shown in the series was similar to what he observed growing up.[13]

Filming

The series was filmed in Gällivare, Övertorneå, Haparanda, Kalix, Malmberget, and Kiruna.[13] Over 72 days of filming in early 2019, the production experienced equipment malfunctions due to the harsh conditions, including snow depths up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) and temperatures as low as −35 °C (−31 °F).[7] Petrus Sjövik was the cinemotographer and Aimee McDaniel was the sports choreographer.[14][8]

Release

The first two episodes of Beartown premiered on HBO Nordic on October 18, 2020, with the remaining three being released weekly afterwards.[15] The series was made available to North American audiences via Max on February 22, 2021.[16]

In 2023, it was reported that the series was no longer accessible for streaming on Max. Beartown and 20 other HBO Europe originals were moved to the Skyshowtime streaming platform.[17]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported 93% approval, with 14 reviews and an average rating of 7.8/10.[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave Beartown a score of 82 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."[19]

Swedish

Karolina Fjellborg of Aftonbladet called Beartown the best Swedish series of the year so far, describing it as a "near-perfect depiction of peer pressure, macho culture and the double-edged rural mentality that can be both cohesive and destructive."[20]

Writing for Dagens Nyheter, Jacob Lundström praised the show's writing, performances, and effective social commentary. While citing the show as a rare example of a "small-town portrait from Norbotten...that on the whole [feels] dialectally correct", he noted that Peter's wife Mira was relegated to a "helpless supporting figure, rather than a person in her own right", but nontheless commended actress Aliette Opheim's depiction of the role.[21]

The series also received a generally positive review from Jan Andersson in Göteborgs-Posten. He commended Gronlund's direction and the overall adaptation of Backman's original novel. He also cited Stenberg's performance as a standout, but said he was unimpressed by the younger actors.[22]

International

In The Boston Globe, Matthew Gilbert praised the series for its compelling story, cast, and writing.[23] Dorothy Rabinowitz of The Wall Street Journal also gave it a positive review.[24] For The Daily Beast, Nick Schrager commended the portrayal of toxic masculinity, how the town's hockey program "teaches boys that they're all important, that winning is everything, and that being big, tough, profane, and mean is the way to accomplish one's goals."[25] He also called attention to complimentary subplots involving racism and a closeted hockey player.[25]

Judy Berman of TIME called Beartown as a "patient portrait of a stiflingly small place with a long memory", as well as an "icy Scandinavian take on Friday Night Lights." She highlighted how the series avoided the standard crime drama formula, citing it as one of the best new shows of February 2021.[26] Another positive review came from Shane Ryan in Paste, who applauded Peter Grönlund's directing, as well as the performances of Miriam Ingrid and Oliver Dufåker. He also praised the show for its realistic hockey scenes, noting that it was "clear that they put a lot of time and effort into making [the scenes] look like real junior hockey."[27]

In a generally positive review for Under the Radar, Kaveh Jalinous criticized the series' use of "surface-level montages" to move the story along, and the lack of depth given to non-primary storylines.[28]

Award nominations

Miriam Ingrid and Ulf Stenberg received nominations for Best Actor and Actress, respectively, at Kristallen 2021.[29] For his original score, composer Johan Testad was nominated for a 2022 HARPA Nordic Film Composer Award.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fredrik Backmans Björnstad blir tv-serie på HBO Nordic" [Fredrik Backman's "Björnstad" becomes a TV series on HBO Nordic]. Expressen (in Swedish). 2019-01-28. Archived from the original on 2019-01-28.
  2. ^ Revoir, Paul (2016-02-15). "Moomins to be remade by producers of The Bridge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-12. Though FilmLance is famous for The Bridge, and in Scandinavia and Germany for the long-running detective series Beck, it also has a long history making children's films.
  3. ^ Thorsteinsson, Ari Gunnar (2014-01-14). "'The Bridge': Why This Border-Spanning Detective Story Has Been Remade In Three Countries". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  4. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2019-01-28). "HBO Europe Greenlights Swedish Drama 'Beartown'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  5. ^ Fjellborg, Karolina (2020-06-25). "Första teasern för HBO Nordics "Björnstad" – premiär till hösten" [First teaser for HBO Nordic's "Björnstad" – premiere this fall]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  6. ^ "Isande drama från start till mål" [Chilling drama from start to finish]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 2020-10-16. Fredrik Backman, författaren vars mest kända rollfigur Ove tog sig ända till Oscarsgalan, började skriva "Björnstad" som tv-serie, men färdigställde den som bok. Nu har den alltså ändå blivit serie, HBO Nordics andra svenska sådana efter Lukas Moodyssons "Gösta" (2019). [Fredrik Backman, the author whose most famous character Ove made it all the way to the Oscars, started writing “Björnstad” as a TV series, but completed it as a book. Now it has become a series after all, HBO Nordic’s second Swedish series after Lukas Moodysson’s “Gösta” (2019).]
  7. ^ a b PIckard, Michael (2020-10-30). "Team talk". Drama Quarterly. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  8. ^ a b "'Beartown' Finds the Cracks in Hockey Culture's High Ceilings and Thick Walls". The Ringer. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  9. ^ Hansson, Joel (2022-02-07). "Spelade i succén Björnstad – går till Lysekil Viking Kropps stora skräll – skakade om topplaget" [Acted in the successful Björnstad – goes to Lysekil Viking – made a big splash in the top team]. Bohusläningen (in Swedish) – via PressReader.
  10. ^ "Charlotta Jonsson tar över Sällströms roll i "Wallander"-filmerna" [Charlotta Jonsson takes over Sällström's role in the "Wallander" films]. www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). 2013-01-10. Archived from the original on 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  11. ^ Bodin, Uffe (2020-10-29). ""Det gör det nog svårt för homosexuella killar att våga kliva fram"" [It probably makes it difficult for gay guys to dare to come forward]. hockeysverige.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  12. ^ Tosser, Magnus (2021-05-04). "TV-karriären har tagit fart för skådespelaren från Luleå – aktuell i tre nya serier" [The TV career has taken off for the actor from Luleå – currently in three new series]. www.kuriren.nu (in Swedish). Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  13. ^ a b "Katastrof när ishockeylaget bär bygden" [Disaster when the ice hockey team carries the village]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2020-10-12. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  14. ^ Ettenhofer, Valerie (2021-02-21). "HBO's Swedish Import 'Beartown' Skates on Thin Ice". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  15. ^ Björkvall, Helena (2020-10-18). "Nytt drama av Backman" [New drama by Backman]. Västerbottens Folkblad (in Swedish) – via PressReader.
  16. ^ Jones, Rachel (2021-02-21). "Skating around secrets". Concord Monitor. pp. s2. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  17. ^ Szalai, Georg (2023-01-10). "SkyShowtime Acquires 21 HBO Max European Originals (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  18. ^ "Beartown - Season 1 - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  19. ^ "Beartown season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  20. ^ Fjellborg, Karolina (2020-10-15). ""Björnstad": "Årets hittills solklart bästa svenska tv-serie"" [Beartown about macho culture, peer pressure and rural mentality]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  21. ^ Lundström, Jacob (2020-10-16). "Skridskovassa "Björnstad" bästa svenska serien just nu" [Ice-skating ”Björnstad” the best Swedish series right now]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  22. ^ Andersson, Jan (2020-10-13). "Jan Andersson: "Björnstad" veckans största premiär" [Jan Andersson: "Björnstad" biggest premiere of the week]. Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). Retrieved 2025-05-09 – via PressReader.
  23. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (2021-12-08). "'Beartown' is an almost almost pick". The Boston Globe. pp. G8. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  24. ^ Rabinowitz, Dorothy. "'Beartown' Review: Accused Hometown Hero". WSJ. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  25. ^ a b Schager, Nick (2021-02-22). "HBO's 'Beartown' Is a Stunning Examination of Rape and Toxic Masculinity". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  26. ^ Berman, Judy (2021-02-26). "The Best New Shows Our TV Critic Watched in February 2021". TIME. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  27. ^ Ryan, Shane (2021-02-22). "Beartown on HBO Max Is an Outstanding, Unsparing Work that Transcends Scandinavian Noir". Paste (magazine). Archived from the original on 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  28. ^ Jalinous, Kaveh. "Beartown". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  29. ^ "Kristallen 2021 – här är kvällens vinnare" [Kristallen 2021 – here are tonight's winners]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2021-08-27. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  30. ^ "Nominated HARPA 2022 Best Score". Nordic Film Music Days. Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
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