The film was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee When the father of the young Olof Persson (Eddie Axberg) becomes ill, he starts taking jobs as a working class Swede.

His first job is log driving, where he meets a man named August (Allan Edwall).

Olof visits home and his mother (Ulla Akselson) asks questions about the security of his new job.

After an accident while selling candy, Olof asks for a new job and starts working for a touring projectionist named Mr. Larsson (Åke Fridell).

Mr. Larsson introduces Olof to Olivia (Ulla Sjöblom), the "queen" of a travelling shooting gallery.

Olof starts going to meetings concerning communism and its place working-class Sweden, and writing poetry.

Niklas shouts, "Damn capitalist rot!” They both proclaim their pro-socialist opinions to their boss, Byberg (Bengt Ekerot).

[5] Specifically, Sweden found its place in this continental movement by following its "tradition of state intervention to promote political centralization and economic efficiency.

[5] In Here Is Your Life, Olof is never struggling for money and shelter, but he is constantly working and taking new jobs to sustain himself and his family.

[2] This working class portrayal[2] is likely linked to the welfare initiatives that were present or forthcoming when the film was produced.

[6] Along with this, Sweden's economy during the twentieth century relied on trade, so this was another reason to keep peace with multiple nations.

"[6] During the Cold War, the Swedish government had to carefully consider the need for nuclear weapons ("armed isolation"[7]), and how these would influence Sweden's policy of neutrality and economic situation.

[6] In the early 1960s, the younger generations of Sweden were exposed to Western culture, and many participated in protests opposing the Vietnam War.

When Here Is Your Life was released and shortly after, much of Sweden's population was considering Sweden's changing foreign policy that "consisted of four elements: national neutrality, Nordic cooperation, a commitment to UN collective security, and a nascent association with the European Communities and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.