Synopsis:
A politically curious drama student (Lena Nyman) making a film for a director (Vilgot Sjöman) gets romantically involved with a salesman (Börje Ahlstedt) who has a partner and child on the side.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Movie Directors
• Scandinavian Films
• Sexuality
• Strong Females

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary points out that this “important film breaking down U.S. censorship rulings between 1969 and 1972” contains a “lengthy scene containing full frontal nudity of both the” female and male leads, in addition to other seemingly-natural simulated sexual interactions — all of which are “incorporated into a political comedy,” thus making it “a rare legitimate film that contains explicit sex as just an element of the story.” As Peary writes, “Nyman plays herself, the actress who’d starred in Sjöman’s 491 (1964). She and director-writer Sjöman have become lovers”:

… and “now she is starring in his new film as the daughter of a political sellout (he’d fought with the Republicans in Spain for a couple of weeks before returning home).”

Peary notes that Nyman “considers herself a nonviolent radical and, in a very funny [extended] scene, asks people on the street about class structure and sexual equality in Sweden,” in addition to spending “time protesting U.S. involvement in Vietnam.”

Soon “she has an intense affair with car salesman Ahlstedt,” not realizing “he lives with another woman and their child.”

Another notable sequence — very much of its time — involves Nyman heading off to a spiritual retreat, which is interrupted when Ahlstedt shows up.

Peary argues that while this film is “overlong,” it’s “worthwhile” and “has substance.” However, though the film is certainly startling for what Sjöman was willing to put forth at the time, the experimental storyline itself hasn’t aged particularly well; these days, viewers will likely simply be “curious” to check it out once given its historical notoriety.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Lena Nyman as Lena
  

Must See?
Yes, once, but simply for its historical relevance.

Categories

• Historically Relevant

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TCM Article
• TV Guide Review
• Criterion Essay
• NY Times Original Review
• Q Network Review