Reviews
Fröken Julie (1951)
Fascinating beyond words
Sjöbergs best movie. And perhaps the most beautiful Swedish film since Stillers "Herr Arnes Pengar". It's fascinating how Sjöberg captures the different time-levels without interrupting the flow. A true masterpiece and one of few Swedish films that measures up to Bergmans best work in the 50s.
Tårtan (1973)
Hilarious, sick, disgusting and terribly funny.
I saw this highly improvised TV-series when I was about 8 years old, and I just couldn't forget about it. It had an enormous impact on me at the time. Sure you can argue that the story is banal and that the acting is amateuristic, but then you're missing the point. Pure cult!
Banketten (1948)
My favourite Ekman movie.
Hasse Ekman had already established himself as the leading director at the time (before Bergman) but the leading role as the sadistic Hugo Stenbrott also established him as a gifted actor. Ingmar Bergman was impressed an gave Ekman one of the parts in "Gycklarnas afton", 1953. Eva Henning (Ekmans wife in real life as well) gives a striking performance as the lovesick Vica.
A frightening peak into the world of the upper-class, where the devil hides under a polished surface. Almost a masterpiece! **** (out of five)
Fram för lilla Märta eller På livets ödesvägar: Ett biografdrama i prolog, epilog och ett antal tableauxer (1945)
Some 14 years ahead of "Some like it hot"
Stig Järrel, dressed up as a female cellist, is hilarious in this light-weighted comedy. Terrafilms greatest succes ever! *** (out of five)
Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru (1918)
Described as the most beautiful picture in the world.
This film was Victor Sjöströms international break-through and it's not hard to understand why. It wasn't the first time Sjöström had used the wild and unpredictable nature as an illustrator or commentator, but this time the scenery and the acting was in the same level of quality. A wonderful piece of art.
Körkarlen (1921)
The greatest of the swedish silent movies
Sjöströms masterpiece and a movie that captures the swedish soul . It also served as a great inspiration for Bergman; the similarites between Körkarlen and Smultronstället (with Sjöström in the leading role as Isak Borg) from 1957 is not a coincidence. Don't miss it for the world!