Verschwiegene Spiele (1966)
10KVerschwiegene Spiele: Directed by Mai Zetterling. With Ingrid Thulin, Keve Hjelm, Lena Brundin, Jörgen Lindström. The story about a man who’s trying to get rid of his memories from his past. He grew up in an upper-class family in a castle and now revisits the castle with his fiancee.
“Jan (Keve Hjelm) fights impotence (literal and symbolic) and anguished childhood memories in a decadent Swedish castle where risqué parties and daring scenes defy 1960su0026#39; movie censorship, reaffirming the ground-breaking role of Swedish films in helping advance adult, sexually concerned themes in international cinema (q.v. Bergmanu0026#39;s u0026quot;Through a Glass Darklyu0026quot;, u0026quot;The Silenceu0026quot; and u0026quot;Personau0026quot;, Vilgot Sjömanu0026#39;s u0026quot;My Sister My Love/ Syskonbädd 1782u0026quot; and u0026quot;I am Curious Yellowu0026quot;, etc). u0026quot;Night Gamesu0026quot; includes a bold flashback scene of Jan as a child (sensitive Jörgen Lindström, who played the young boy in Bergmanu0026#39;s u0026quot;The Silenceu0026quot;) caught masturbating. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFormer Swedish star Mai Zetterlingu0026#39;s third directorial effort is particularly interesting for atmosphere, decors and cast, but the film is heavily depressing and the rather obvious symbolisms have dated badly. Sphynx-like, marvelous Ingrid Thulin has a field day as the bitchy and sensuous mother; Keve Hjelm is engagingly honest in a role that requires bravado and emotional range. The film is influenced by Bergmanu0026#39;s u0026quot;angstu0026quot; films but also has an expressionist touch to it, because of Rune Ericsonu0026#39;s camera-work and experiments with different lenses.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you like films with decadent-bourgeois flavor and angst-filled characters, this is for you. Of course, itu0026#39;s also a must for Ingrid Thulin fans, but itu0026#39;s probably a very difficult film to find these days. My vote: 6 out of 10.”
