Abba: The Movie (1977)

A cut above the average life-on-the-road-with-the-band film, ABBA: THE MOVIE emerged in 1977 at the height of the Swedish band's enormous global fame. Shot in Australia by fellow Swede Lasse Hallstrom (CHOCOLAT, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES), the film is ostensibly designed to give viewers a glimpse at the off-stage life enjoyed by the members of Abba, as well as the on-stage euphoria of their live shows. But there is also a fictional plot neatly interwoven into the action, with Hallstom's cameras following an Australian DJ named Austin (Robert Hughes), who tries to clinch an exclusive interview with the band as they tour his native country. This proves to be a problematic task, with the security surrounding Abba continually thwarting Austin as he attempts to get close to the elusive Swedish foursome. A great way to experience the frenzy that surrounded one of the biggest bands in the world during the 1970s, Hallstrom's film affords some glorious screen time to the music of Abba, while also encompassing a look at the media circus which slavishly followed them around.