All Things Fair 1995 Lust Och Faegring Stor Better (2024)

Directed by the legendary Bo Widerberg (who also gave us Elvira Madigan ), All Things Fair tells the story of 15-year-old Stig (Johan Widerberg, the director’s son) in 1943 Malmö, Sweden. While World War II rages in neighboring Europe, neutral Sweden exists in a bubble of uneasy calm. Stig is a typical teenager: bored, horny, and curious. His new teacher, 37-year-old Viola (Marika Lagercrantz), is beautiful, melancholic, and trapped in a loveless marriage with a violent, alcoholic train conductor (Tomas von Brömssen).

"All Things Fair" is a masterful exploration of adolescent angst, delving into the universal struggles of growing up. Göran's journey is marked by moments of tenderness, humor, and heartbreak, as he navigates the challenges of first love, peer pressure, and self-discovery. The film's portrayal of teenage life is both authentic and poignant, capturing the intense emotions and vulnerability of this pivotal stage.

Bo Widerberg, alongside cinematographer Morten Bruus, bathes every frame in a golden, autumnal light. Unlike the grim, gritty aesthetic of 1990s independent cinema, All Things Fair looks like a memory you wish you had. The famous scene of Stig riding his bicycle through the tunnel of trees, dappled sunlight hitting his face, is a masterclass in visual storytelling. This is not pornography; it is photography . The beauty makes the subsequent emotional violence hurt more. For the viewer searching "lust och faegring stor better," the visual poetry alone justifies the claim.

Erik is a pianist now. Not famous, but good enough. He plays in a trio on weekends. He has a girlfriend who laughs too loud and loves him honestly. He should be happy.

He crossed the room without deciding to. He was seventeen—all want, no wisdom. He kissed her. She let him for three seconds. Then she pulled back, pressed her forehead to his, and whispered, “You don’t understand. I am not your freedom. I am your first loss.” all things fair 1995 lust och faegring stor better

The film is set in 1943. While Sweden was neutral, the war looms in the background. There are scenes of air raids and blackouts. This creates a palpable tension—a sense that life is fleeting, which adds urgency to the "seize the day" nature of the affair. It contrasts the global destruction with the personal, intimate destruction of the characters' lives.

That was the beginning. Not with a kiss or a confession, but with a single, unbroken note held between them.

) is a 1995 period drama that stands as the final cinematic contribution from the legendary Swedish director Bo Widerberg . Set in Malmö during World War II

The situation inevitably unravels. Viola's drinking spirals out of control, mirroring her husband's decline. The affair ends violently when a drunken Viola threatens Stig with a broken bottle, ending their relationship. Meanwhile, a parallel plot shows a brief, awkward sexual encounter between Stig and his female classmate, Lisbet (Karin Huldt), that leaves him full of regret, further highlighting the painful and awkward nature of his coming-of-age. Directed by the legendary Bo Widerberg (who also

👎 : Detractors find the film troubling. Critic Stefan Stenudd felt the film's lustful phase was without depth, only becoming interesting when the relationship breaks down. Adrian Martin delivered a scathing review, calling it "sloppy, tedious and often insulting," and arguing that the male protagonist's coming-of-age comes at the expense of the female characters.

Why is than typical teacher-student dramas? Because it refuses the "victim vs. predator" binary. It shows a boy who believes he is in control, only to realize he is drowning, and a woman who believes she is finding freedom, only to find herself shackled by her own loneliness.

No one in Lust och fägring stor is a caricature. Viola is not portrayed merely as an evil predator, nor is she a flawless romantic lead. She is a deeply lonely woman trapped in a miserable marriage to an unfaithful, alcoholic husband, Kjell (Tomas von Brömssen). Stig is not just a passive victim; he is driven by his own burgeoning desires and a curiosity that eventually morphs into arrogance. 2. The Intriguing Dynamics of the Subplot

The original Swedish title, , is derived from the first line of the traditional Swedish summer hymn " Den blomstertid nu kommer " ("The blooming time now comes") Wikipedia. His new teacher, 37-year-old Viola (Marika Lagercrantz), is

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For those looking for in terms of availability, the film has seen a recent digital restoration. It is available on the Criterion Channel (in some regions), as well as via classic film streaming services like Mubi. Physical copies (DVD/Blu-ray) from the Swedish Film Institute include the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio, which is essential for the full visual experience.

Marika Lagercrantz’s Viola is a revelation. She is neither a predator nor a victim. She is a woman so starved for tenderness that she mistakes a boy’s lust for love. Her breakdown in the third act—when Frank discovers the affair and forces her to confront her actions—is devastating. Young Johan Widerberg holds his own, showing the physical transformation of Stig from a gawky boy into a traumatized young man. The scene where Stig cries, not for the loss of love but for the loss of his childhood, is the film’s emotional core. No one overacts. Everyone bleeds into the frame.