Erik Hell Movies

The Ritual is an alternate English-language title for Ingmar Bergman's The Rite (Riten). Made for Swedish television in 1969, this short film was Bergman's revenge against those who opposed his management of the Royal Dramatic Theatre. The storyline involves three actors whose recent production has been judged obscene by the powers-that-be. Bergman deliberately obscures the "controversial" quality of the production itself, forcing the viewers to assess their own opinions over what is obscene and what isn't. Intending to shock and provoke his audience, Bergman was appalled that many viewers laughed at The Rite, misinterpreting it as a satirical comedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Maria (Gunnell Lindblom) returns to the scene where she was raped as a young woman years earlier in this grim and disturbing psychodrama. She finds that the landlord and rapist (Eric Hell), is still around, and he again tries to have his way with Maria. Her daughter (Gio Petre), who witnessed the attack, has a fear of men and has lesbian leanings, and the son of the landlord follows in his father's felonious footsteps and rapes a young girl. The viewer should be warned of the graphic scenes of child molestation, rape, violence, and masturbation in this film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

John (Jarl Kulle) is a sea captain whose wife left him years ago in this sentimental romantic drama. One weekend, he meets and falls for Anita (Christina Schollin), the pretty single mother of six-year-old Helent (Helene Nilsson). The film opens with John and Anita in bed together, sharing their life stories with each other. John begins to hope his relationship with Anita will grow into something permanent, but Anita is not convinced that his intentions are altogether honorable. The feature was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Foreign Film" in 1965. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Set during the Russo-Finnish War, this drama tells the tale of a husband who is arrested by Finnish soldiers while speaking earnestly to the distant moons in the hopes of psychically contacting his distant wife. The film becomes surreal as the woman can be heard singing throughout the empty land. Soon she is killed by enemy soldiers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Better known as One Summer of Happiness, Hon Dansade en Sommar was the most popular and financially successful of Swedish director Arne Mattson's romantic films. Based on the novel by Per Olof Ekstrom, the story revolves around the romance between college graduate Goran (Folke Sundquist) and farmer's daughter Kerstin (Ulla Jacobsson). Their plans to marry are stymied by the opposition of a local clergyman (John Elfstrom). Only after a devastating tragedy occurs does Goran realize the folly of allowing others to make decisions for him. Though Arne Mattson could have spent the rest of his career turning out Bergmanesque exercises like this one, he decided to switch creative gears and concentrate on Hitchcockian thrillers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this early feature from Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, Gosta (Bengt Eklund) is a sailor with the merchant marine who has decided to take some time off from sailing after eight years at sea. Working the docks until he can find a better job, one Saturday night Gosta visits a dance hall and meets Berit (Nine-Christine Jonsson), a beautiful but troubled young woman. Berit has a history as a juvenile delinquent and has served time in a home for girls, where she met her close friend Gertrud (Mimi Nelson). Berit soon becomes infatuated with Gosta, and his strong, well-grounded nature seems to be the stabilizing influence she needs. However, in time Gosta learns about Berit's checkered past and meets her mother (Berta Hall), who makes no secret of her contempt for her daughter. Gosta begins having second thoughts about his relationship with Berit after she unwittingly involves him in the death of Gertrud, who succumbs after receiving an illegal abortion. Hamnstad (aka Port of Call and Harbor City) marks the first time Bergman worked with cinematographer Gunnar Fischer, who would photograph many of his most memorable films of the 1950's. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Anders Henriksson does double duty as star and director of the Swedish Det Vackraste pa Jorden. The title translates as The Most Beautiful on Earth, a reference not to Henriksson but to female co-star Inger Juel. Advertised as a "case history," the story delves into the psychological makeup of a chronically unfaithful wife (Juel). In keeping with Swedish tradition, the heroine's sexual misadventures are depicted in a mature fashion, causing no end of trouble for American censors. Star/director Henriksson is best known to U.S. filmgoers for his performance in Bergman's The Devil's Wanton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Released in America as The Road to Heaven, Himlaspelet is regarded as not only one of director Alf Sjoberg's finest films, but as one of the most impressive achievements of the Swedish cinema. Described by one observer as a Scandanavian Pilgrim's Progress, the story deftly combines nationalism, religious spiritualism and entertainment value in equal portions. The film's framework involves a naïve farm lad who seeks justice from Above after his father is burned as a witch. When he feels that God has failed him, he hardens into a flint-hearted idolator of material gains. After a lifetime of greed and treachery, the now-aged protagonist is given one last chance at redemption-not by God, but by Satan! As the elderly farmer digs through his past misdeeds, Biblical images parade across the screen, all of them eminently appropriate to the situation at hand. It is abundantly clear throughout that Himlaspelet was a source of inspiration for scores of future Swedish filmmakers-notably Ingmar Bergman, whose own The Seventh Seal owes a great deal to the tone and texture of the Sjoberg classic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide