Maid in Sweden

'Maid in Sweden' is a soft porn. starring Christina Lindberg. For those old enough to remember, it evokes nice memories about the love & sex morals of the early seventies.

Although 'Maid in Sweden' offers us a coherent story, one cannot overlook its downright lousy acting - in particular that of Lindberg herself. Its shooting could also have been done better, even by the standards of 1971.

My DVD also offers a recent 10 minutes-interview with 57-year old Christina Lindberg. Although she answers her questions politely enough, one feels that Lindberg has left the nude shooting in her young life behind her a long ago ago already.

Made in Sweden (1971)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

USA/Sweden production has Christina Lindberg in her first major acting role. She plays Inga, a 16-year-old cherry who lives on a farm in the middle of no where. She received a letter from her older sister in the big city who invites her over for a week and this is where she discovers sex. This film has been advertised as a sexploitation movie but it actually tries to be a lot more serious than just some skin flick. That's not to say there isn't any nudity in the picture because that would be an outright lie since Lindberg takes her clothes off any chance she gets. She certainly has one of the most beautiful bodies in this genre so seeing her naked isn't a bad thing and I'm sure it's the main reason people will be drawn to the film. She also manages to give a pretty good performance. This is the third film I've seen with her and I'm always amazed at how natural an actress she is. She pulls the part of the shy, naive girl off very well and she's quite believable in the role of a young girl. Monica Ekman and Krister Ekman play her sister and the sister's boyfriend. Inga gets exposed to sexual pleasure during a rape scene, which I'm sure many will object to. She's being raped but half way through she realizes that sex is something good and I'm sure some might see this as sexist or even worse but I don't think any deep messages where trying to be send with the scene. It's strange that the screenplay would take itself so seriously when it's main purpose was to get men into the theater to see naked women. The coming of age story really doesn't work too well because at the heart this is still a sexploitation movie.

A bunch of jerks and A-holes!! Inga put on a good show of being innocent but is very immoral. Greta was the only likeable character. I know this isn't meant to be a serious movie but the messages it sends are awful. Rape a girl long enough and good enough and she will begin to like it and fall in love with you! I don't know which character was worse, Inga or her sisters boyfriend. Both are scum. I liked the interview at the end, Christine Lindberg was still an attractive older lady though I would never guess she was the same person.

Inga, 16, travels to the city to visit her sister Greta. The walls of Greta's apartment are thin and soon Inga hears Greta and her boyfriend, Carsten making love. Inga's arousal and subsequent journey into adulthood are beautifully and tastefully depicted. The film is lit with exquisite subtlety and edited with calm good taste. Maid in Sweden was one of the first adult films to play in mainstream theaters in the early seventies, and as a sixteen year old myself at the time, this film had particular relevance for me. Upon seeing the film again it still stands the test of time.

Rape and more rape, while capitalizing on the over-developed (and heavy-cellulite) body of the leading lady.

If you want to watch a post-60's genre flick of Swedish culture in the early 70's this movie is probably a fair example. But most likely it's the near X-rated skin and sex that will draw most curious viewers.

As far as seeing nude females and some sex action, it's disgusting that much of it results from rape, and the plot has almost no sensitivity to the character's feelings or trauma.

As far as the acting, the plot is very thin and the actors as well. There is little depth or purpose for this movie aside from being a vehicle for nudity and sex.

If you enjoyed movies such as Candy (Ewa Aulin) and enjoy seeing a character repeatedly sexually abused, then you will probably enjoy this movie, unfortunately.

This movie is basically sexploitation.