Fimpen

Fimpen (lit. "the cigarette butt", UK Stubby, international The Butt) is a 1974 Swedish family and sports film written and directed by Bo Widerberg and starring Johan Bergman.^[1][2]

Fimpen
Directed by	Bo Widerberg
Written by	Bo Widerberg
Produced by	Bo Widerberg
Cinematography	John Olsson
Edited by	Bo Widerberg
Release date	16 February 1974 (1974-02-16)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	Sweden
Language	Swedish

Blending realism with humour, the film follows a six-year-old boy whose extraordinary football talent propels him into national fame, forcing him to balance school, celebrity pressure and professional sport. The film has since become regarded as a classic of Swedish children's cinema and was named the best football film of all time at the 11mm International Football Film Festival in Berlin in 2013.^[3]

Plot

Six-year-old Johan, nicknamed "Fimpen", is an extraordinarily talented football player. He is discovered and recruited to Hammarby IF and the Sweden men's national team. Performing in the 1974 World Cup qualification, he is promoted to idol status but finds it difficult to keep up in school. Fimpen’s growing celebrity status places pressure on his daily life as he struggles to balance school, media attention, and the demands of professional sport. Adults around him debate whether football or education should come first as he faces the emotional costs of early fame.^[4]

Cast

• Johan Bergman as Johan 'Fimpen' Bergman
• Monica Zetterlund as Teacher
• Magnus Härenstam as Mackan
• Ernst-Hugo Järegård as Club Official
• Carl Billquist as Principal
• Stig Ossian Ericson as Cab Driver

Football players appearing as themselves: Claes Cronqvist, Ralf Edström, Ove Grahn, Georg Ericson, Ronnie Hellström, Kent Karlsson, Ove Kindvall, Krister Kristensson, Bosse Larsson, Benno Magnusson, Roger Magnusson, Björn Nordqvist, Kenneth Ohlsson, Janne Olsson, Örjan Persson, Roland Sandberg, Tom Turesson and Mats Werner.

TV and radio sports commentators appearing as themselves: Bengt Bedrup, Ulf Elfving, Bengt Grive, Arne Hegerfors, Bo Holmström, Lennart Hyland and Sven Lindahl.