Paavo, a Life in Five Courses (2010): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2010, Paavo, a Life in Five Courses is a documentary film directed by Hanna Hemilä, running about 71 minutes. “A film about Ingrid Bergman's butler.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Finnish farm boy Paavo Turtiainen is hired into the Parisian household of Swedish theatre producer Lars Schmidt and his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman. The couple “adopt” and train Paavo to navigate among the rich and famous. Later on, Paavo becomes the personal secretary for Schmidt and Bergman. His responsibilities include building up the personal archives of both Schmidt and Bergman. Ms. Bergman’s archives are now at the film archives of Wesleyan University and Schmidt’s archives are in the United States Library of Congress. After Schmidt and Bergman divorce Paavo decides to settle permanently in New York. His first clients are friends of Schmidt: celebrities and business personalities Paavo has met while working in Paris and on Dannholmen, a Swedish island owned by Schmidt. Eventually Paavo becomes an acclaimed chef and event planner for high society. Along the way, he has learned to stand on his own feet.

Who’s in it. Paavo, a Life in Five Courses stars Paavo Turtiainen as Self, Pia Lindström as Self, Isabella Rossellini as Self and Lars Lundberg as Self, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Paavo, a Life in Five Courses page.

If you liked it. Fans of Paavo, a Life in Five Courses tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.