Evil (2004)
Stockholm, the fifties. Though academically bright, violent pupil Erik Ponti is expelled from his state school with the headmaster’s words “there’s only one word for people like you – evil… what you need is a good thrashing, and more”. In fact already Erik frequently receives a ‘good’ thrashing at the hands of his sadistic stepfather – so he is packed off by his mother to boardingschool
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Memorable, crazy movie
Fantastic!
Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
As a film student, and sort of a film prude it becomes difficult for me to find movies that really spark my interest. I've grown quite tired of the majority of Hollywood films and like to dip into the international buffet of movies once and awhile. This film truly reminded me why I love foreign films. In aspect of the screenplay, it was based off a book written in 1981 that was roughly based on someone's real life experiences with institutionalized violence. The movie has reviews that claim it to be "Fight Club in a boarding school." I couldn't disagree with that statement more. There may be a few resemblances, but this story can't possibly be compared to anything else. It has so many different plot lines that need to be examined by the view themselves. Between Erik and Pierre's friendship, Otto Silverhielm's true evil spirit, or a deep film-noir inspired look at Erik's motives behind his rash behaviors.The story aside, looking at this film purely as a film; it still stands out. The shot selection is purely superb and Mikael Hafstrom deserves to be recognized as an artist. One scene in particular stands out as Silverhielm humiliates Erik in the dining hall. As Erik leaves, and is being alienated from the school itself, there is a long tracking shot following him as he walks out of the dining hall. He is in perfect focus while everyone else in the scene is out of the depth of field. The viewer is taken along with Erik as he takes the uncomfortable and embarrassing walk out of dining hall. This visual language makes the film stand on its own, and allows one to understand what is going on whether or not they have the subtitles turned on.Overall the film is truly a beautiful work of art that reminds myself of why I came to love films in the first place. It is visually stunning and tugs at your heart strings while making you think about morality and motivations. In my book, it's a must see.
In 50s Stockholm, rebellious boarding schoolboy Erik (Wilson) learns for himself that whichever upper-class twit first came up with the phrase 'schooldays are the happiest days of your life' should be nailed to a blackboard and pelted with red-hot chalk rubbers. Humiliation and spirit-crushing pranks in the name of 'team spirit' are top of the syllabus, as twisted head prefect Silverheim (Skarsgard, son of Stellan) tries to break him, body and soul. As ever, 'evil' manifests itself through complicity and inaction, and with benignly corrupt headmasters, and ex-Nazis preaching eugenics in the classroom, it's easy to see where the rot set in. Overly familiar ('school-as-microcosm-for-big-bad-world') it may be - we've enrolled here many times before, notably with If... - but it's mitigated by a brutal, blazing performance from young lead Wilson. B plus.
Ondskan reminded me of myself. It just took me back to my school days where I was naughty and got frequently directed by the teachers.I could relate with Erik in many parts of the movie. The film started at a slow pace but gradually picked up the heat. It is a brew of high end human emotions and and even more excellent direction. I cried When Pierre left the school and also I was amused when Erik tells Silverhielm that he isn't like and him and he will never kill him,. I think that scene itself speaks volumes about the movie.The music and camera work need special mention, there are some scenes in which an ordinary director would fail to deliver the goods by being normal, but in 'Ondskan' even some trivial scenes can frighten you and set your heart best two times faster. The actress who played Marje is sexy and she has the charm to keep you asking for more!The romance levels are quite low but they are good enough to increase the audience's love for the movie. I especially liked the scene in the end where the lawyer comes to talk with the headmaster towards the end. The letter which Marje writes to Erik is also touching and the way Eric reacts to it just wonderful.Ondskan has a few glitches here and there (like the ending scenes with the Sports teacher and stuff) but they are not strong enough to hamper the rating which I gave!. On the whole it is a good film with a good cast and great direction!. I don't understand why some Swede's didn't like this movie but for me it was simply SUPERB!Cheers!
This is a heart-wrenching movie that puts human conscience to the test. At some points of the movie, I thought of stopping it being unable to take it anymore. It makes me think how evil human behaviour can get and sets me thinking whether the events in the movie do happen in real life.What else can be more evil than a mother who does nothing to stop his son from being brutally abused pretending nothing has happened just to maintain her stupid marriage? What else can be more evil than the people who are supposed to be the most respected in society and occupy the moral high ground but indeed sanction the worst form of human abuse and torture pretending that they have seen nothing? I think it is a multi-dimensional movie, about human hypocrisy and parenting, with deeper messages beneath. After watching the movie, I am definitely convinced that the mother is the most evil of all the demons in this film who makes me puke. I am afraid the corollary of growing up in this kind of evil environment is the naturalisation of an innocent soul into yet another human evil, and that in real life there are not many people as firm and steadfast as Erik Ponti.