This is what the classic hotel looks like today – 44 years after the Sällskapsresan • Mattias, 52, photographed on holiday
In the 1980 film, the hotel was called Flamenco and was located in the fictional town of Nueva Estocolmo. In reality, it is in the Spanish Playa del Ingles, something that Mattias, 52, from Umeå sneaked out.
When he traveled down to Spain with his family on holiday, he took the opportunity to stop by with his family to see if it looked the same 44 years later, something Expressen previously told about.
– I was with the family and went with them and watched it because I wanted to see it, says Mattias.
To be able to compare, he also recorded clips from the film.
– The facade looked the same, I was most fascinated by that. It was fun, says Mattias.
Mattias: Seemed to be a bit of a Swedish nest
However, the hotel seems to have changed little since the filming in the 80s. Today it is an apartment hotel and Mattias did not manage to get into the hotel, but he managed to snap a few pictures.
– It was a bit of fun to go there and have a look and it was actually quite similar to what you’ve seen from the movies, says Mattias.
The classic hotel was not the only one with a Swedish connection in the area.
– Across the street there was a Swedish church and a restaurant, it seems to be a bit of a Swedish nest, says Mattias.
During the trip, he also discussed the film and the trip to the hotel with his guide.
– She had been up in the mountains and found a restaurant that had been in the film. There is probably as much to follow up as possible, if you wanted, you could probably spend some time on that, says Mattias.
Lasse Åberg: “Tear it down”
But not everyone has the same warm feelings for the hotel building. Lasse Åberg, who both directed and starred in the film, is not a fan, to say the least.
– If I may be a little elitist, it is not the place I would go to myself. It’s the million dollar program fixed on the beach. For my part, they are happy to tear it down, he tells TV4 Nyheterna.
But even if the building itself doesn’t impress him, he still has many warm memories from the shoot. Not least by his acting colleagues.
– When I see pieces of it, I think a lot about how many people are no longer with us. I’m getting a little sentimental. You get some philosophical thoughts about the finitude of life.
And that the film has left such an impression on many people, that pleases Lasse.
– I often hear that people play the film on the way down. Clapping hands and poking at the air conditioner. There are company parties with Sällskapsresan. Then you can go out on the balcony as a group and look in different directions. Dance Christmas dances by the pool.
Now around Christmas and New Year, many families settle down on the sofa to once again watch Stig-Helmer and Ole go out into the world.
– It’s almost starting to become a bit like Donald Duck’s Christmas Eve, it goes every Christmas. I am proud of it, says Lasse Åberg.