Leave it to the country that brought us Greta Garbo to deliver one of the most flirtatious and sexy comedies of the silent era. "Erotikon" succeeds on so many levels, one often forgets that it is billed as a comedy. And while the movie doesn't really provoke outward laughs, it does manage to let a naughty grin linger on the face long after the closing credits have passed.
Directed by Mauritz Stiller, "Erotikon" features Lars Hanson as a lonely sculptor fighting his longings to commit adultery with the wife of his best friend, while she appears to have the same compulsion for another man; her flight instructor. The husband doesn't seem to notice either of their antics because he has a roving eye of his own; toward his niece.
American audiences would not be seduced by Greta Garbo for another six years, but was given a taste of the passionate danger they had yet to witness, thanks largely in part by Swedish actress, Tora Teje, in the role of the sexually playful wife, Irene. Through her multi-layered embodiment of the character, we not only see the frustrations of a loveless marriage, but also her brash attempts at satisfying her escalating urges for physical intimacy.
Released in 1920, "Erotikon" was one of several films that brought attention to the ever growing evolution of the sexually independent female. The United States released a similar movie that year, "Why Change Your Wife?" with Gloria Swanson, which was fun, but tame in comparison, making it appear that in the early part of the twentieth century Sweden was most definitely at the forefront of social change.
Today's audiences may view "Erotikon" as out-dated fluff, but one must remember the subservient rules women were expected to follow prior to 1920 to fully appreciate how fresh and risque this movie must have felt at the time. Also featured in this wonderful ensemble are the talents of Anders de Wahl as the befuddled husband, and as his love interest, none other than the future Mrs. Lars Hanson, Karin Molander.
Directed by Mauritz Stiller, "Erotikon" features Lars Hanson as a lonely sculptor fighting his longings to commit adultery with the wife of his best friend, while she appears to have the same compulsion for another man; her flight instructor. The husband doesn't seem to notice either of their antics because he has a roving eye of his own; toward his niece.
American audiences would not be seduced by Greta Garbo for another six years, but was given a taste of the passionate danger they had yet to witness, thanks largely in part by Swedish actress, Tora Teje, in the role of the sexually playful wife, Irene. Through her multi-layered embodiment of the character, we not only see the frustrations of a loveless marriage, but also her brash attempts at satisfying her escalating urges for physical intimacy.
Released in 1920, "Erotikon" was one of several films that brought attention to the ever growing evolution of the sexually independent female. The United States released a similar movie that year, "Why Change Your Wife?" with Gloria Swanson, which was fun, but tame in comparison, making it appear that in the early part of the twentieth century Sweden was most definitely at the forefront of social change.
Today's audiences may view "Erotikon" as out-dated fluff, but one must remember the subservient rules women were expected to follow prior to 1920 to fully appreciate how fresh and risque this movie must have felt at the time. Also featured in this wonderful ensemble are the talents of Anders de Wahl as the befuddled husband, and as his love interest, none other than the future Mrs. Lars Hanson, Karin Molander.
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