Oscar Ljung Movies

In a characterization that twists and turns like an insomniac, (Ewa Froeling) does the best she can with the female lead, Sally. The "liberated" Sally (a social worker) first wants to marry, and did marry Jonas, the lawyer. She wanted a child and did have little Mia. She does not want another child, gets pregnant, and gets an abortion without telling Jonas ahead of time. She next wants a divorce, and gets one, leaving with Mia. Then she wants to live together with Simon, a teacher, but does not want to marry him - and she carries that out. Then she wants Mia to live with Jonas, and sends her away. When she sees Jonas is happily married again, and Mia is happy, she wants to be married too. Simon does not. She wants a child. Simon does not. She gets pregnant. Simon does not want the child. She goes for another abortion. To say that Sally does not know her own mind, is to assume that the character has one as she fluctuates between wanting marriage and wanting divorce, wanting a baby and wanting an abortion, not wanting marriage and wanting marriage, not wanting an abortion and not wanting a baby. There are only so many of these combinations that can go around before three lemons come up. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

John Clelland's ribald 18th-century novel Fanny Hill got plenty of attention during the let-it-all-hang-out '60s. Nudie filmmaker Russ Meyer beat everyone to the punch with his notorious soft-core version of Fanny Hill, filmed in Germany in 1965. Around the same time, director Mac Ahlberg was preparing his own FH in Sweden. To avoid confusion, Ahlberg's effort was released in the U.S. as The Swedish Fanny Hill, even though most of the story takes place in Merrie Olde England. Diana Kjaer plays the buxom Ms. Hill, a "woman of pleasure" whose memoirs are long, loud and lusty. Considered hot stuff in the 1960s, Fanny Hill seems almost austere when seen today. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Much better known in the U.S. as The Magician, this award-winning, surreal, evocative drama stars Max von Sydow as the title character and features several of Sweden's top performers. Set in the 1840s in Stockholm, the mystery and enigma of life and death itself are embodied in Vogler, the magician who runs "Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater." When his traveling show arrives in town, the police commissioner, a doctor, and a civil servant are intent on putting his supernatural powers to the test. As the pendulum swings between fearful images and moments of comic relief, the mysterious Mr. Vogler defies analysis. In 1959, Ansiktet was given the "Best Film" prize at the British Academy Awards, the "Best Foreign Film" prize at the New York Film Critics Awards, and two prizes at the Venice Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Popular Swedish leading man (and future film and TV director) Alf Kjellin heads the cast of Tosen Fran Stromytorpet. The title translates as The Girl of the Marshcroft, said girl played by Margareta Fahlen. It's the old story of the innocent country girl compromised by big-city predators, but it's handled with freshness and nuance. Particularly worthwhile is the location photography by Martin Bodin, which was singled out by most reviewers. Tosen Fran Stromytorpet was based on the best-selling novel by Selma Lagerlof, which was previously filmed during the silent era. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi