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Swedish filmmaker Mikael Hafstrom directs the coming-of-age drama Ondskan (Evil), based on the autobiographical novel by Jan Guillou. In the mid-'50s, teenager Erik Ponti (Andreas Wilson) suffers serious abuse at the hands of his father (Johan Rabaeus). He translates the violence at home to school, eventually getting himself expelled for fighting. His mother (Marie Richardson) struggles to come up with the money to send him to a private school, where the senior boys brutally haze the juniors in a ritualistic tradition. Erik makes enemies with senior Otto Silverheim (Gustaf Skarsgard), but, fortunately, finds friendship with Pierre (Henrik Lundstrom) and romance with Marja (Linda Zilliacus).

This film is largely set in a Swedish boarding school in the 1950s. A shocking film with many images of sadism and violence, which create a lasting impression. Totally gripping with excellent direction and acting. There are similarities with the much earlier Lindsay Anderson cult film "If", but without the rather surreal ending of the latter. A Swedish film with English subtitles.

Sweden released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Swedish ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Swedish ( Dolby DTS 5.1 ), Danish ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Swedish filmmaker Mikael Hafstrom directs the coming-of-age drama Ondskan (Evil), based on the autobiographical novel by Jan Guillou. In the mid-'50s, teenager Erik Ponti (Andreas Wilson) suffers serious abuse at the hands of his father (Johan Rabaeus). He translates the violence at home to school, eventually getting himself expelled for fighting. His mother (Marie Richardson) struggles to come up with the money to send him to a private school, where the senior boys brutally haze the juniors in a ritualistic tradition. Erik makes enemies with senior Otto Silverheim (Gustaf Skarsg?rd), but, fortunately, finds friendship with Pierre (Henrik Lundstrom) and romance with Marja (Linda Zilliacus). Evil was screened at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, Oscar Academy Awards,

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