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the title “evil” makes it sound like a horror film, and it is in certain ways. it’s a polished, unflinching drama set in a swedish boy’s school in the late 1950s that examines the politics of power in rich young men, questioning whether bullies are born or made, and whether they can ever be unmade. ondskan is a very strong depiction of violence (in many different forms), oppression and wickedness. directed by mikael hafstrom in 2003, evil (ondskan) is a swedish gripping drama based on a semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by a french-swedish author, jan oskar guillou. the movie is the director’s best-known work, having been nominated for an academy award for best foreign language film at the 76th academy awards. it also took home three guldbagge awards in sweden, including best film. andreas wilson, henrik lundström, and gustaf skarsgard; who is best known for his role as floki in the vikings series, starred in the movie alongside other renowned actors. *spoiler alert* andreas wilson, brooding and handsome, plays young erik ponti, who appears unapproachably vicious in the movie opening scenes. erik takes out his rage on his schoolmates after being abused by his control-freak stepfather on a daily basis; after one particularly brutal fight, the headmaster labels erik “as evil in its purest form” and shows him the door, expelled even as a top student. having being expelled, his mother sold some of her possessions to send him to stjarnsberg boarding school for boys to finish his schooling, where he was humiliated and bullied by otto silverhielm and other upper-class men, while teachers looked the other way. apparently, this act is part of the school tradition as a means of maintaining order and discipline, with upperclassmen bullying and taking advantage of the lower-class men. erik, not wanting to disappoint his mother with yet another expulsion, chooses to engage in civil resistance rather than resorting to violence. together with his friend pierre tanguy, erik holds in-depth discussions about the nature of evil, the importance of resistance and methods of fighting without violence, while pierre opens his eyes to a world where violence isn’t the main component nor the strongest force, by enlightening him with the words of mahatma gandhi. (an anti-colonial nationalist from india that employed nonviolent resistance during his period) erik’s only and true friend, pierre, brought a heartwarming feeling to the movie, and plays an important role throughout erik’s development. sparks of romance appear throughout the film as erik develops a forbidden relationship with marja, the school cook. this film forces the audience to think, what does “evil” mean exactly? evil is seen many times throughout the film; in erik himself (prior to his expulsion to stjarnsberg, for harassing other students), his stepfather (who regularly assaults him), and his tormentors at school, as well as his mother and the teachers who turn a blind eye to what is going on. this isn’t just a film about evil; it’s about the many different kinds we come across on a daily basis. the plot is logical as it portrays real life events, bullying occurs in virtually all schools, where upper-class men harass and humiliate lower-class men. bullying occurs not only in schools­, but also at work, at home, in the neighborhood, and even in the family, and it can cause a great deal of damage leaving the victim physically, mentally and emotionally traumatized. the movie preaches the concept of “taking a stand” as the lead role actor, erik ponti, stood his ground and undergoes a total transformation as he rids himself of his violent stepfather, intimidating upperclassmen, and the school administration. this movie is enlightening in my opinion, as it sends a message to the audience to stand up to bullies, as well as any act of bigotry, abuse, or corruption. this movies incredible story is enough to keep the audience engaged throughout, as it’s focused on the subject of violence begetting, abuse, and the termination of violent cycles, so expect a lot of brutal and bloody battle scenes. despite the movie’s violent theme, it is full of heartwarming moments, funny, romantic, and sees acting at its finest. one of the scenes that piqued my interest is the food blessing recital scene. the swedish language added to the thrill as they read the recital in unison, making it sound like a cult chant in the movies. i got chills and had to replay that scene a couple times. the foreign language adds a nice touch to the film. *spoiler alert* there’s also the scene at the end where he stood up to his stepfather. i would have given anything to see him giving his stepfather a lifetime beating, the movie did not clarify whether or not the beating took place. for me, this was enough of a happy ending. it’s unnecessary to continue because the point has already been made: he won! though it would have been fun seeing him beat up his step father 😊 we, on the fringes of this great circus, watch his battles, feel his pains, feel his defeats, and get to see what he learns. once watched, it’s not just a movie or a story that’s likely to leave you after you’ve seen it. it makes you think, consider your position, and develop an opinion about the events that occurred. as a result, you must question yourself. what’s the right thing to do? what would you have done in that situation? it astounds, it horrifies and it stays with you forever. having said all that, while i believe the film is a masterpiece, i also feel certain elements were left out, leaving the audience with lingering questions like; was otto silverhielm born evil or a product of the system?looking at the end story of otto silverheim, did he change for good?did erik ponti reunite with the love of his life marja?what’s the end story to his abusive step father?was erik able to change the system in the school? the movie then poses the age-old question of whether violence can ever be justified as a form of retaliation. this movie never really addresses the question; all it shows us is that sometimes, violence works. still though, this film is an underrated masterpiece that should not be slept on. this movie adaptation is spot on, reflecting and broadening on everything from the novel. great piece by mikael hafstrom. touching, violent, heart-warming, romantic and incredibly relevant, a must-see movie. royalty free photo by: cottonbro

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