Bo Jonsson Movies

Hrafn Gunnlaugsson directs this bleak historical drama about repressed sexuality, Satan, and ghoulish modes of torture. Set during the 17th century, the film opens with a wizened old man stumbling upon the doorstep of a remote Icelandic monastery. The old man, on his death bed, recounts his life story to one of the priests. The action flashes back to 1643, where Jon Magnusson (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason) has just graduated from the seminary and is told that he can take over a small isolated parish if he marries the former vicar's wife Thorkatla (Gudrun Kristin Magnusdottir), who turns out to be 30 years older than him. Though they eventually marry, he refuses to sleep with her, arguing that they must not yield to the pleasures of the flesh. In truth, Jon does not want to succumb to the flesh of a dowdy middle-aged woman, instead he hungers for the pert young body of the comely Thuridur (Sara Gogg Asgeirsdottir). In a desperate attempt to drive away the miasma of frustrated thoughts wracking his brain, he stages a one-man campaign against Satan worshippers. Accusing Thuridur's father (Jon Sigurbjornsson) and brother (Jon Tryggvasson) of witchcraft, he has them sentenced to death. Later, Jon gives Thuridur an offer she cannot refuse -- have sex with him or watch her menfolk go up in flames. Of course, she does refuse. Not long afterward, her relatives are rendered into ash and congealed fat and Thuridur herself is accused of the crime. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

In this Swedish comedy and satire, a gentle and shy man is fired from his job by an obnoxious yuppie. When that same yuppie challenges him to learn golf in a week's time, the beleaguered man seeks the help of a friend, who takes him to Scotland to learn the game in its spiritual homeland. Along the way, he not only picks up the basics but falls in love with the daughter of a Scottish golf pro. Meanwhile, his path crosses that of some of the snobbiest and most class-conscious individuals ever to have teed up for a round of golf. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This drama concerns the relationship between two brothers, both at first involved in petty crime in one way or another. Kiljan (Joakim Thastrom) is the older of the two siblings who has already changed and is now working at an auto repair shop. His one hope is to steer his younger brother away from a life of crime, and how he goes about it happens quite by accident, literally. He uses an accidental death to get his brother off the hook, though his help may backfire on both of them. Symbolism and animals get a lot of screen play here, though their meaning remains an enigma in many instances. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This is a visually opulent story -- geared to a young adult level -- of King Charles the XII of Sweden and how he once tried for five years (1709-1714) to convince the Turks to help him conquer Czar Peter the Great of Russia -- and failed. According to this filmed version of history, seen through the eyes of a Swedish lieutenant, the Turks were equally willing to join with the Russians, or just send Charles back to Sweden. The line between tragedy and farce blurs as the king and his lieutenant try to find a way out of their predicament. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Marilyn Jordan (Susan Anspach), an American-born housewife, mother, and socialite living in Sweden, is crumbling under the weight of her own existence. She deeply resents her husband Martin's (Erland Josephson) frequent holiday absences and his indifferent attitude toward their two children ("If they are going to grow up in today's world," he admits, "it's about time they faced the fact that nobody keeps promises anymore"). Moreover, Marilyn's eccentric father (who believes he is Buffalo Bill and fires off guns in the house to prove it) and her children -- who hatch an outrageous plan to set up a dating service for senior citizens -- start to drive her completely around the bend. Marilyn feels herself domestically imprisoned -- encased in a bell jar. Her subsequent behavior grows not simply eccentric, but irrational and then comically outrageous. She cooks wiener schnitzel for the entire family, but eats it all herself; unsuccessfully attempts to poison the family beagle; and -- convinced that insects are attacking her during the night -- showers the plant above her bed with bug repellent, much to Martin's consternation. Finally, irritated by Martin's sexual indifference to her, Marilyn manages to get his attention in a last, desperate move by setting his bed on fire late one night. Deeply concerned, Martin consults psychologist Dr. Pazardjian (Per Oscarsson), who does little to help Marilyn and (indeed) turns out to be even nuttier than any of the members of the Jordan family. Via a comic security mix-up, Marilyn later becomes stranded at the Stockholm airport and hitches a ride with a band of horny Yugoslavian immigrants celebrating the new year; they take her to their ZanziBar nightclub for a couple of days, where she begins to break out of her domestic prison by engaging in a torrid extramarital affair with randy Slavic zookeeper Montenegro and by performing as a one-time chaunteuse on-stage. Eventually, Marilyn's family beckons for her to return -- but her brush with independence has made her a very different woman, indeed. Montenegro marked controversial writer/director Dusan Makavejev's English-language debut, and earned widespread critical raves for Anspach's career-defining performance. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Four men, three of them married, are "buddies" in this Swedish film. What that seems to mean here is that they get together from time to time to carouse. After playing a dirty trick on a girl they pick up, and on the single man in their number, the three married men are disturbed to find that the girl and their single friend are planning to get married. ~ Clarke Fountain, 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