nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 17, October 15, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
This Week, Page 4
Swedish folk history comes alive in the musical production of Fäboland.
Photo courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival
Sweden, Page 2, 3
Amanda Kernell’s awarded film debut, “Sámi Blood,” was recently showing at Toronto International Film Festival. Earlier this year Kernell also won the Fedora Prize for best young director at the Venice International Film Festival, a first Venice Days Award for Sweden. / Page 5
Stockholm makes it easier to charge electric cars / Beautiful weather continues in Sweden / Successful spacecraft mission comes to an end / Sweden pushes for safety initiatives for journalists / Restructuring eligibility could help immigrants in school / Björn Borg movie just a year away / Swedish support for Cuba.
Perspectives, Page 3
Reflecting on favorite Swedish words.
Feature, Page 5
Swedish at Toronto Film Festival.
White beauties on the Atlantic Ulf Barslund Martensson editor@nordstjernan.com
Page 8
New Swedish coins and bank notes have been introduced into circulation.
Dashboard, Page 8-9
The second MS Gripsholm arrives in New York. Built in 1957 by the Italian firm Ansalo soc per Azioni Genova, it served under the flag of SAL’s fleet until the end of its passenger traffic in 1975. The vessel met its fate at the scrap yards as recently as February of 2001.
The Swedish Music Miracle
After Abba, and not counting hit-makers Max Martin or Niclas Molinder, it really used to be “house music” with acts such as Swedish House Mafia, Basshunter and Avicci that reached the larger audience. Today’s number of acts and diversity is stunning, though; in fact, Sweden’s biggest export is now music, and the country ranks third in the world for the most music heard around the globe. And while Swedish singer and songwriter Zara Larsson is likely to win two major awards this fall, many of Sweden’s hottest acts are also gathering for an exclusively Swedish music festival in LA and two musicians are cleverly reviving an old folk Pages 4, 9 tradition from the mountains of southern Sweden.
Archive photo
The “White Ships” of Swedish America Line (SAL) are indelibly linked with the years of mass immigrations from Sweden to America. Tales from the ships’ 1916-1975 era are far more than sentimental recollections — they also reveal that the glamour of ocean travel was tempered by the dangers of the mighty North Atlantic. For three generations, the White Ships, proudly displaying the nation’s three golden crowns on their funnels, were the maritime pride of Sweden. While other ships provided tolerable accommodations only for first-class passengers, the White Ships established respectable standards for tourist-class travel as well. Their elegance and seaworthiness and the high level of service lavished on Swedish passengers bound for America made them immensely popular Continued on page 6
The Draken Harald gets ready for winter in Connecticut / An early grape harvest promises smooth Swedish wines / Breakthrough research at Karolinska / Greta Garbo and Brigit Nilsson grace Sweden’s new paper currency / Zara Larsson’s music may be doubly rewarded at the European MTV Awards / A missing rune stone rediscovered.
Local, Page 10
An exhibit of a prolific Chicago Swedish American painter opens at the Swedish American Museum.
Local, Page 13
VP of New Sweden Centre, Del. awarded.
Page 11