Nina (Lena Philipsson) has something she needs to get off her chest. It’s not that big a deal in the scheme of things – it’s the kind of good news people share every day. And in any other situation it wouldn’t be a problem at all. One quick conversation, everybody’s happy for her, life goes on. But on the street where she lives, little things can quickly lead to big dramas, and her news is set to seriously shake up at least a few of the locals.
Nina’s quiet Swedish street isn’t all that special. What is special is the community around it. Nina’s lived there her entire adult life: together with her husband Erik (Jesper Sjödin), she built a family there, helped by her father-in-law Rune (Leif Andrée), who lives close by. And then when Erik died, everyone – including her best friend, Moa (Claudia Galli Concha) – came together to help her get through it.
But that was four years ago. Now she’s ready to move to the next stage of her life. Is the street ready to handle the news that for the past three months (he says three and a half) she’s secretly been dating home handyman Richard (Ilkka Villi)? When the news accidentally comes out during a street party, things will never be the same. Which may be for the best… eventually.
Nina (Lena Philipsson) with Richard (Ilkka Villi). Credit: Viaplay
We’re used to television series being based on movies, or novels, or actual events. But what about a song? You’d have to have a good memory for Swedish pop ballads to remember the 2005 song ‘På gatan där jag bor’ (‘The Street Where I Live’). That year it made it to number 26 on the Swedish singles chart; it’s become something of a pop standard since then. Now the song about a woman who decides it’s time to embrace change has inspired a television series centred on a woman who’s moving forward with her life. How’s that for a cover version?
And for a series based on a song, who better to star than the song’s singer? Lena Philipsson was the performer who made ‘På gatan där jag bor’ a hit; now she’s playing the lead in the resulting series. It’s not her first time in front of the cameras – she’s had a handful of supporting roles in recent years – but this is her first time taking on a major role. Fortunately, she was already pretty familiar with the material.
Lena Philipsson as Nina. Credit: Viaplay
As the series develops and we get to know the neighbours, a few more plots come into play. One couple is about to have a baby; another is (possibly) reaching the end of their marriage. But even when tempers flare, The Street Where I Live isn’t really high stakes drama. It’s a cosy series, with a warm atmosphere. Even Rune, who can be a bit on the bossy side, is clearly coming from a place of love. It’s just that it’s love for a world with his son still in it. That’s why he’s constantly hovering around Nina’s place, doing chores, asking Richard when he’s going to be finished. He means well; he just doesn’t want anything to change.
Moa isn’t quite as bad, but she is firmly single (her husband ran out five years back) and very happy to have a best friend she can share that with. A lot of her conversation seems to revolve around how creepy men are on dating apps, how good it is to be single, and how she’s coming over with a bottle of wine later on so they can celebrate being single and avoiding creepy men. At least she actually likes Richard – as a handyman who’s working on her friend’s place, nothing more.
Nina (Lena Philipsson) and Moa (Claudia Galli Concha). Credit: Viaplay
So it’s easy to see why Nina has such a strong connection to her neighbourhood. Beyond her invitingly overstuffed trinket shop, there’s the brightly coloured rows of barn-like homes that line the street, and the autumnal park where she runs with her adorable dog – and once she gets home, there’s her two surprisingly well-adjusted teens who just roll their eyes and move on when their mother and her boyfriend are rolling around on the bed like kids themselves.
Which means there’s a surprisingly large amount at stake with her new relationship. In many ways, she’s got the ideal life; why rock the boat? But Richard is starting to ask why they’re not public and while he understands how important her friends and family are, isn’t he important too?
Whichever way she turns, Nina knows there’s change coming. All she can do now is embrace it – and hope that those she loves will follow her lead.
The Street Where I Live is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
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The Street Where I Live
