Flickorna (1968)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Mai Zetterling

Writers:

Aristophanes (play)
David Hughes (writer)

Release Date:

16 September 1968 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Husband Wife Relationship | Anti War | Theatrical Troupe | Sex

Cast

Bibi Andersson	...	Liz Lindstrand
Harriet Andersson	...	Marianne
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Gunilla
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Hugo
Erland Josephson	...	Carl
Frank Sundström	...	Marianne's lover
Åke Lindström	...	Bengt
Stig Engström	...	Thommy
Leif Liljeroth	...	Turistchef i Kiruna
Ulf Palme	...	Director
Ingvar Kjellson	...	Olle
Signe Enwall	...	Choir member
Bellan Roos	...	Choir member
Chris Wahlström	...	Choir member
Manne Grünberger	...	Choir member

Also Known As:

The Girls (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Enköping, Uppsala län, Sweden

Company:

Sandrews

Movie Connections:

Version of The Second Greatest Sex (1955)

The best Swedish film!

This has become my favourite Swedish film. I've seen i t many times. At first I thought it would be gloomy and depressing in a Bergman way. It wasn't. It's a funny, spirited and inventive film.

It's nice to see that even swedes were caught up in the sixties and felt the charge of new ways of thinking and being. New ideas about social behavior, youth and womens place in society were taken up in "the Girls". It's refreshingly shown and not preachy. There's a lot of humour in it and the men get to say their opinions about women too so it's not one-sided.

Some reviewers here have commented on it as being dated. It is a product of it's time but some of the subjects it takes up are timeless. How much should a woman have to compromise with the male point of view? I think this is still a touchy subject. The film was controversial when it was released. It's not a traditional movie with a straight plot so some people might find it too unconventional. But, there are three great performances by some of the best Swedish actresses ever: Bibi Andersson, Harriet Andersson and Gunnel Lindblom who are all so delightfully energetic, lively and beautiful. They show different sides being a woman.

The film is very much a 1968 film but it's worth seeing for the great black and white photography, to see Sweden in the sixties, for the actors and for the imaginative direction by Mai Zetterling. I love it!