BO WIDERBERG

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB. 

Original title:  Lust Och Fagring Stor

Sweden/Denmark, 1995.  Per Holst Filmproduktion, Det Danske Filminstitut, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Svenska Filminstitutet, Egmont, TV2 Danmark, SVT Drama.  Screenplay by Bo Widerberg.  Cinematography by Morten Bruus.  Produced by Per Holst.  Production Design by Palle Arestrup.  Costume Design by Renette Bengtsson, Asa Broms, Lotta Petersson, Birthe Qualmann, Nicklas Ostergren.  Film Editing by Bo Widerberg.  

A Swedish film about a fifteen year-old boy, on the verge of puberty, having sexual liaisons with his teacher might sound like Debbie Does Mr. Chips meets I Am Curious (Yellow), but this is a terrific coming-of-ager. The young man in question (played by director Bo Wiederberg’s son Johan) has a torrid love affair with his teacher, starting a series of painful lessons about growing up that prove priceless for him. The classroom scenes with the students talking about their discoveries on the subject of sex are terrific. Widerberg’s last film before his death in 1997.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Foreign Language Film

Berlin Film Festival Award:  Silver Bear