Hets

In contrast with his best friend at school, who cites Strindberg's and Nietzsche's cynical views on women, Jan-Erik Widgren considers himself an idealist, who believes there's a chaste woman out there for him. But the adolescent schoolboy's first love proves to be a loose girl he finds stumbling around drunk one night. They become lovers, even though she has another man in her life - a man she says bullies and torments her. Meanwhile, Jan-Erik is poised to fail at school, thanks to a sadistic schoolmaster - a browbeating teacher of Latin whom all the boys refer to as Caligula.

The title sequence promises a thriller, and there are sequences that seem prepared to fulfill that promise; but it never quite pans out. The story never quite pans out as satisfactory drama either, despite some acute observations by the wiser characters and good performances from everyone. Ingmar Bergman's script comes off like gleeful revenge against an actual schoolmaster he knew.

The best thing about the movie is the gorgeous black-and-white photography from Martin Bodin, under Alf Sjöberg's direction, filled with sinister shadows of domineering figures and clutching hands and low angle shots revealing shadow-strewn ceilings.

An early board school tragedy foreshadowing the likes of If… and the Danish Det forsømte forår. Written by Bergman and directed flawlessly by Alf Sjöberg, it is the grim story of sensitive gymnasiast Widgren, who falls in love with charming but haunted Bertha (mai Zetterling at 19 years of age). A dark secret connects Bertha with the sadistic Latin teacher Caligula. The movie is extremely sincere, with ominous shadows and sharp light exposing Bertha and Widgren's tormented souls. Tensions are sky-high, and one senses that the drama will be the death of one or the other. I think I maybe saw this as a teenager, or is it just because archetypical school movie themes are played out here for the first time, and to perfection? I can hardly recommend this gem too much, I will probably upgrade it on next viewing.

Torment is most recognised as the screenplay debut of young Ingmar Bergman. And while there are signs of a script-writer who had more than great potential, Torment does deserve to be known for more than the debut of one of the best and most influential directors in film. For it is a very fine film indeed. It looks great, with gorgeous photography and evocative scenery. Alf Sjöberg's direction is clever and sustained, while Bergman's screenplay has both its dark and affecting moments and shows great thought and insight. The story does show signs of a chilling atmosphere, affecting melodrama(without being overly so) and also of a writer early on in his career showing what he could do while developing it to even greater heights later on in his career, the film is always involving pacing wise and the character development is subtle while always making the characters interesting. The music has moments where it is too intrusive but is overall hauntingly-composed and fitting, while the acting is marvellous, especially from Stig Järrel and Mai Zetterling. In conclusion, very, very good. 9/10 Bethany Cox

While I believe the film to be a bit formulaic and is at the beginning of Bergman's career (of course he's the screenwriter here), this did captivate me for the most part. It has a level of intensity, mostly built by the psychotic Latin teacher. Any of us who have been in a class run by a tyrant, can feel our flesh crawl. The classroom scenes are really provocative and unsettling. When he shows that little smile, we know he is in much greater control than we realize. The biggest weakness for me was the whole thing with the shop girl. Why wouldn't she name her tormentor? How far had this relationship gone. We aren't privy to tender moments between the lovers, so we mostly see her as an unstable drunk, living in constant fear. What was the attraction. Was it strictly carnal. Was he sorry for her or taken with her in a kind of "Human Bondage" way. Anyway, I thought their relationship needed a great more. It is uplifting in its own way, however, and deserves a viewing. It really works pretty well.

Widgren isn't fond of his high school, the Latin teacher always makes him look a fool, just a few weeks now to go, he can escape the tyrant foe, run off with his girl, enjoy life, and be cool (he's suffering teen angst and distraction with a lack of concentration).

Caligula works at just such a high school, he teaches Latin and he follows all the rules, but out of site he is quite shady, a touch psychotic, definitely crazy, has his sights set on a girl he'd like to rule (There's a reason certain individuals take up a particular practice, and it isn't because of a passion for the profession, several of which spring to mind).

Bertha has a pest who's in pursuit, an unstable and a volatile brute, though she's just met a new beau, but the foe's not letting go, though for now her lips are sealed and she stays mute (who's going to believe her story after all).

When those in authority over others, both formal and informal, take advantage of the situation to cause misery and torment. A familiar story that traverses most times and ages and doesn't seem to be waning too much today.