Quote from: Strömkarlen on March 11, 2024, 11:44:53 AM491 is probably one of the more extreme films made in Sweden. At least because of the reaction it generated. The fundamentalist christian party KDS (now KD) was formed on the back tail of the campaign that preacher Lewi Pethrus organised against the release of the film. Based on a great book by Lars Görling. The film was done with the full support of both the Swedish Film Institute and politicians in an effort to test/challenge the censor laws.
One can mention that this director, Vilgot Sjöman, really was giving the Swedish board of censors their hands full. Internationally most known for his sexual-political romp "I am Curious (Yellow)", but I also want to suggest the 1977 film "Tabu" (Taboo). It follows a number of people with (at the time) deviant sexual orientations... gays, crossdressers, exhibitionists, sadomasochists, necrophiliacs... the whole gamut. Quite controversial when it was released, not surprisingly, but bombed at the box offices. Even for the golden age of adult theatres it was too far out. I once saw it at a special screening with Sjöman himself introducing the film.
Finnish director Rauni Mollberg is not so much extreme, but very poignant in his naturalistic portrayal of life in traditional rural communities under a heavy influence from religion/church. "The Earth is a Sinful Song" features hypocrite clergymen taking advantage of repenting female members of the parish, while in "Milka" a handyman (called Christ/Devil) has relationships with both a mother and her under-age daughter at the same time. Very slow and beautiful movies with a good measure of controversial content.
