An intelligent and optimistic - if a tad unambitious - Swedish film based on the apparently true story of a put-upon working-class woman at the turn of the century who finds consolation in photography.

Maria Heiskanen plays sensitive Maria, yoked for life by unbending Christian principle to brutal, philandering, often-drunk Sigfrid; as he gets buried in a local dockworkers strike, she uses an old camera to nourish the faint sputterings of creativity within her. Predictably, this also results in a tremulous, chaste romance with the local portrait photographer, who offers help and expertise along the way.

Shot in atmospheric sepia tones, this is a modest film with gentle, pleasing sentiments at its heart.