Lukas Moodysson

Karl Fredrik Lukas Moodysson (; born 17 January 1969) is a Swedish filmmaker, novelist, and short story writer. First coming to prominence as an ambitious poet in the 1980s, he had his big domestic and international breakthrough directing the 1998 romantic film Show Me Love. He has since directed a string of films with different styles and public appeal, as well as continued to write both poetry and novels. In 2007, The Guardian ranked Moodysson eleventh in its list of the world’s best directors, describing his directorial style as “heartfelt and uncompromising.”

Early life Born in Lund, Moodysson grew up in Åkarp, Skåne County as an outcast, expressing himself through poetry. By the time he was 23 he had written five poetry collections and a novel published by Wahlström & Widstrand. He decided to move to film to produce works that were less introverted and could be enjoyed by a wider audience than poetry. After studying at what was then Sweden's only film school, the Dramatiska Institutet, he directed three short films before moving to features.

Filmmaking Moodysson's directorial breakthrough came with Fucking Åmål (retitled Show Me Love in English-speaking countries).

2019 saw the premiere of the TV series Gösta, Moodysson's first foray into television and HBO's first commissioned drama series out of Scandinavia.

Moodysson's Together 99, a sequel to Together, was released in 2023. Set in 1999, it follows Göran and Klas as they establish a new commune. Most of the actors returned, with the exception of the children, Michael Nyqvist (who died in 2017), and Ola Rapace, whose role of Lasse was recast with actor Jonas Karlsson.

Personal life Moodysson is an outspoken advocate of left-wing and feminist politics, and a deeply committed Christian.

Filmography Det var en mörk och stormig natt — 1995 En uppgörelse i den undre världen — 1996 Talk (Bara prata lite) — 1997 Show Me Love (Fucking Åmål) — 1998 Together (Tillsammans) — 2000 The New Country (Det nya landet) — 2000 Lilya 4-ever — 2002 Terrorists: The Kids They Sentenced (Terrorister - en film om dom dömda) — 2003 A Hole in My Heart (Ett hål i mitt hjärta) — 2004 Container — 2006 Mammoth (Mammut) — 2009 We Are the Best! (Vi är bäst!) — 2013 Gösta — TV series, 2019 Together 99 (Tillsammans 99) — 2023