Swedish erotica comes to the ICA
Story by Jack Foley
FILM buffs are invited to celebrate the best of Swedish Erotica with a four-day film orgy at London’s ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) courtesy of Klubb Super 8.
From October 4 to 7, 2007, the ICA will feature six of the best Swedish erotic celluloid has to offer, including a special opening illustrated lecture with Christina Lindberg, Sweden’s premiere cult/exploitation star, followed with a double bill Q&A screening of Anita and Exposed on October 6.
The season is proudly supported by Amora – the world’s only museum dedicated to sex, love and relationships.
Based in London’s Piccadilly, Amora fuses entertainment, excitement and education with seven interactive zones covering every aspect of relationships.
As well as adding content to the season itself, Amora will also be working in partnership with the ICA to give attendees the opportunity to visit the Amora exhibition, located just minutes away.
Sweden has historically been considered an international front-runner in regards to social reforms, health care, equality between the sexes, freedom of speech and actively working against bigotry and double-standards.
This has in many ways been reflected in Swedish cinema, most evident in the films from the sexual revolution of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
The Swedish sexploitation films had such an impact, that there are many who still associate Sweden with skinny dipping, promiscuity and voluptuous blonds. Now is an opportunity to look back at more liberal, innocent and happy times.
The programme:
I am Curious (Yellow) – October 5, 6
This landmark document of Swedish society during the 1960s follows a rebellious young woman as she negotiates the changing social, political and sexual landscape of her country. A radical mix of dramatic and documentary techniques that still feels fresh and subversive. [Dir Vilgot Sjöman, Sweden 1967, 121 mins]
Thriller: A Cruel Story (aka They Call Her One Eye) October 5 & 6
The notorious sexploitation revenge movie, and one of the major inspirations for Tarantino¹s Kill Bill. A young mute girl (Christina Lindberg) is forced into addiction and prostitution by a pimp (Heinz Hopf), and starts plotting her brutal revenge. [Dir Bo A Vibenius, Sweden 1974, 105 mins]
Anita + Exposed double bill plus Q&A with Christina Lindberg, October 6
Christina Lindberg will attend for a Q&A following a screening of Anita, the tale of a teenager who falls into a self-destructive cycle of sexual encounters, and the young psychology student (played by Stellan Skarsgård) who plans to save Anita, introducing her to a world of communal living and classical music.
Lindberg will then introduce the second part of our double bill, Exposed, a film that mixes flashbacks, fantasies and reality to tell the story of a teenage woman torn between her young boyfriend and a sadistic older man (Heinz Hopf).
[Dir Torgny Wickman, Sweden/France 1973, 95 mins. Dir Gustav Wiklund, Sweden 1971, 92 mins]
Language of Love October 7
The mother of all sex education films! This sparked scandal and a a huge demonstration in London (led by Cliff Richard) on its release because it includes scenes of actual-sexual-intercourse, but there¹s also a lot of Œsexologists¹ talking, smoking and drinking coffee and music by Bjorn and Benny, just before they started Abba. Language of Love is also the film Travis Bickle thought would be a good first-date movie in Taxi Driver. 35mm print courtesy of the Swedish Film Institute. [Dir Torgny Wickman, Sweden 1969, 102 mins]
Molly, October 7
A perfect example of a refined Swedish explicit erotic film from the 70s (based on a novel by Daniel Defoe). Molly (Marie Forså) is in love with the rich and depraved Peter (Charles Canyon, aka Eric Pollard from Emmerdale Farm!), who arranges orgies on the French Riviera. When her feelings are not answered by Peter, Molly marries his impotent brother. 35mm print, courtesy of Klubb Super 8. [Dir Bert Torn, Sweden/France 1976, 100 mins]
The ICA is located at The Mall, SW1.