FRENZY
Sweden, 1944, 101 minutes, Black and white.
Stig Jarrel, Alf Kjellin, Mai Zetterling.
Directed by Alf Sjoberg.
Frenzy is a striking 1940s Swedish melodrama. It is significant that it was the first screenplay of Ingmar Bergman, who was soon to begin directing his own films as well as writing them - for some decades. The film was directed by Alf Sjoberg, also a celebrated Swedish director.
The film is strikingly photographed in black and white, is strong in its suggestion of a range of moods from students in a Latin class dominated by their lecturer, to intense emotional scenes between the professor and the young girl, the student and the young girl - the young girl being Mai Zetterling in his first film. It launched her on a significant career of acting and directing.
The film makes comment on Swedish society, education, Swedish reserve and passion, guilt and responsibility.
1.The impact of the film? Swedish film-making in the '40s? Traditions? The strong photography and direction? The writing by Ingmar Bergman? The cast?
2.The settings, the school, the block of flats, homes? The 19th century classic buildings? For mid-20th century activity? The comments on culture and modern eras? The musical score?
3.The title, the focus on Jan- Erik and on the professor? The triangle with Bertha? Their different responses, interactions?
4.The character of Jan- Erik: in class, with his peers, friendship, out and around, studying, the pressures of Latin and its demands, behaviour in class, antagonism towards the professor, more sympathy with the headmaster? The encounters with Bertha, the growing friendship, going to her flat, passion, the affair? The ever-present threat of the professor - and his not knowing the identity of Bertha's tormentor? Concern, his behaviour in class, confrontation of the professor, the headmaster, the threat of expulsion? Exams and his not doing well? The concern of his parents and his reactions towards them, offhand, coming home late? Their confronting him? Bertha and her fears, his going to her, the news of her visit to Jan- Erik? The headmaster trying to tell him to ease his discipline? His relationship with Bertha, tormenting her, sadistic approach, the phone calls, the visits, suggestions of the shadow on the wall? His final breaking down of Bertha, her death? His self-justification, mental collapse, treatment by the headmaster? Antagonism towards Jan- Erik, the exams, afterwards, the interviews with the headmaster? His final collapse?
6.Bertha, the young girl, at work, flirting, with men, the relationship with the professor and his tormenting her, her wanting to break free? Friendship with Jan- Erik, their time together, communication, intimacy, love? The affair? Her fears, wanting to break the relationship? Her death?
7.The students, their age, experience, in class? Latin and other disciplines? Treated as children? Relationship with their parents? With each other, helping each other with studies? Exams?
8.The headmaster - seemingly doddery, interactions with people - but kindly, understanding, just? Treatment of the professor, of Jan- Erik?
9.The atmosphere of the school, Ingmar Bergman's emphasis on discipline, sadistic authoritarianism, the pedantic aspects of authoritarian men? These themes developed in his other film? The professor, mental collapse, his destructiveness? The young man, the student, relationships - opening up life?
10.An achievement of '40s Swedish cinema?
