Evil (Ondskan)

What are the limits of power? Who do we blame or point at as evil? Who deserves to be punished and how? These are just some of the questions raised by the Swedish film “Evil”. In Sweden, during the fifties, within a conservative and rigid society, the young Erik Ponti, played impeccably by Andreas Wilson, seems to be out of control because of his temper, violent and irascible. Despite this, at home he stands stoically the punches that, for whatever reason, his grim stepfather inflicts on him.

After being expelled from many schools, his only option to complete his studies is an exclusive one. In there, a place ruled by a complicated hierarchy of lineages and stale aristocracies, things will not go better. Behind the elegant facades and refined manners, a murky reality lies. Discipline is imposed at the point of death by the students themselves, who, freely and without supervision, determine the punishment deserved by those who they consider gulity of committing any fault.

Needless to say, those who hold power use it to subordinate, humiliate and exploit the youngest who, in turn, once grown up, will replace their predecessors and be ready to take revenge on others for the humiliation done to them in the past.

Erik is tired of having problems but is not willing to tolerate injustice. He knows that he has the strength and physical ability to destroy the abusers: years of violent explosions have trained him, but he knows he will be expelled if he acts. How, if not with his fists, which he can use amazingly, how else will he be able to defeat his attackers? Will he stand these offenses in silence, as he did the once inflicted on him by his stepfather? And, finally, the essential question: who is stronger, the one that hits or the one that resists the aggression?

Based on the autobiographical book by Jan Guillou, “Evil” will guide us into very delicate moral dilemmas. As spectators we will censor the excessive cruelty of the students and their violent practices and watch helplessly as adults simply turn the other way.

Almost without realizing it, we do want Erik to somehow pay back those attacks, altough this would only perpetuate the cycle of violence. The title already states the dilemma: "Evil (Ondskan)”, an attribute that will  qualify Erik, the aggressive/evil.

However, quickly we will realize that this “evil” is not in him but everywhere: in all those oppressed who remain silent to injustice;  in the friends who become perpetrators; in the fearful and subdued; in submitting at will without equality of conditions; in teachers who know and allow; in blind teachers who do not know and do not want to inquire.

Director: Mikael Håfström

Writers: Jan Guillou (novel), Hans Gunnarsson 

Stars: Andreas Wilson, Henrik Lundström, Gustaf Skarsgård