One Christmas Eve, a mysterious light flashes over small Kråksjö and a father disappears without a trace. Five years later, Christmas is approaching again and his son Clint, who now shuns everything that goes with the holiday, is determined to find him.
When master thief Bildsköne Bengtsson (Simon J Berger) suddenly steps out of Clint's closet with a time-traveling mannequin, the adventure can begin - and soon the eleven-year-old has a raging Gustav Vasa on the run from the Dane as a resident.
It is above all a magical adventure, says Maja Rung, who plays Moa, Clint's mother and tourism manager in "Tråksjö".
Simon J Berger fills in:
You have both the somewhat timeless modern world, but also Vikings, the 19th century with top hats and cloaks, the 18th century with wigs and knights with swords. I think it's really fun to have all that in the same series.
Unlike Maja Rung, who was in "Mirakel" in 2020, the advent calendar debutant Berger does not have "very strong" feelings for the tradition. A betrayal of the people's soul, Rung points out.
Enthralled by the “Ica guy”
The star-studded ensemble also includes a debutant actress. Blanca Eliasson, 14, plays Clint's older sister Vida.
"The mother is wandering around the city hall and Clint is out on a time trip. It feels like Vida is the one holding the family together," she says.
The debut has given me a taste for more.
I never thought I would sit and eat lunch with Pippi Longstocking (Inger Nilsson).
But it has also been nerve-wracking, like when she was going to play against "the Ica guy" - Loa Falkman.
I generally have such a hard time holding back my laughter and when he was standing there playing against me I couldn't hold it in. I was very starstruck too. He came to the set in a suit every day.
Experienced calendar maker
Calle Åstrand is directing and writing the script (with Daniel Karlsson). This is the third time he has directed the Christmas calendar, a feat he alone has accomplished.
The first thought was quite simple: What would you do if you were eleven years old, sick at home, and then suddenly Gustav Vasa showed up?
His first advent calendar, 2003's "Håkan Bråkan," caused a ruckus. Sexism and "socialist propaganda" were some of the accusations. Humor was the answer of the Review Board, which acquitted him on all counts.
This year's calendar is, in short, an adventurous Christmas tale, says Åstrand.
I hope you get the Christmas spirit.
Maja Rung (Moa):
"The Mystery at Greveholm" (1996), of course. "Kaspar in Nudådalen" (2001) was also really good. I also liked "Pelle Svanslös" (1997).
Blanca Eliasson (Vida):
I like "Panik i samteverkstan" (2019).
Simon J Berger (Bildsköne Bengtsson):
I saw parts of the later "Trolltider" (2023) and thought it was very nice. The only other one I remember is "Kurt Olsson's Christmas Calendar" (1990). It was wacky. Really wacky.
Gusten Wickberg (Clint):
"Mirakel" (2020). Calle directed it too. It was exciting and cozy. I also love "Sunes jul" (1991). It's legendary. And I also like "Panik i tomteverkstan" (2019).
Calle Åstrand (director and screenwriter):
Every generation has its own. My advent calendar is "Trolltider" from 1979. I was eleven years old then.
SVT's 2025 Christmas calendar is about eleven-year-old Clint who is drawn into a winding journey through time and space in search of his missing father.
It is directed by Calle Åstrand, who also wrote the screenplay with Daniel Karlsson. Åstrand, who made "Håkan Bråkan" in 2003 and "Mirakel" in 2020, is the only person to have directed three Christmas calendars.
The cast includes Gusten Wickberg (Clint), Blanca Eliasson (Vida), Maja Rung (Moa), Simon J Berger (Bildsköne Bengtsson), Lisette T Pagler (Cindy) and Christoffer Nyqvist (Ingo).
In other roles, among others, Per Svensson, Sissela Kyle, Andreas Rothlin Svensson, Inger Nilsson, Siham Shurafa, Fredrik Lexfors, Loa Falkman, Johannes Kuhnke and Cecilia Nilsson.
"The Time Thief" premieres on SVT on December 1st.
