Evilby Anonymous

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August 22, 2008: EVIL (Ondskan) is a tough story from the novel by Jan Guillou that in screenwriter Hans Gunnarson's adaptation and Mikael H&#229 fstr&#246 m's direction becomes an intensely interesting while terrifying film about all aspects of evil. It is intelligent, gritty, and transforming simultaneously and has become one of the more powerful coming of age films of this decade. Erik Ponti (Andreas Wilson) is a young high school lad, the son of a 'blind eye' mother and a viciously abusive father, who makes his way through school by fighting. After a particularly dangerous fight Erik is expelled and in order for him to matriculate into a university he is sent to an academy where he encounters the controlling student leader Otto Silverhielm (Gustaf Skarsg&#229 rd) who quickly informs him that the discipline of the school is left in the hands of the students: the faculty elects to overlook the shenanigans of the students in favor of teaching in a self- imposed vacuum. Erik is assigned a roommate Pierre Tanguy (Henrik Lundstr&#246 m) who is Erik's opposite: Pierre reads and studies and advocates the non-violence of Gandhi while Erik focuses on his athletic prowess in swimming and tries to submerge his pugilistic nature. But as the school year progresses Erik discovers the extreme evil of the students who govern the student body by violent skirmishes and humiliation of the undergrads. Erik becomes a school champion swimmer, a feat that only draws the envy and hate of Otto and his henchmen and 'times in the ring' bring out Erik's fighting responses. He can take care of himself but when the violence turns toward Pierre, his only friend, he gathers the courage to confront the faculty with the student goon squad activities. Erik has broken a cardinal rule: he is attracted to Marja (Linda Zilliacus), the kitchen help, resulting in Marja's losing her job AND she is pregnant with Erik's child. Erik is expelled, returns home to his supportive but copeless mother, has one final fight with his abusive father, and returns to his school to unmask the realities of student activities that shock the faculty. How this change affects Erik and those that he respects and loves brings some surprises to the ending of this film. Andreas Wilson offers a multifaceted performance that reminds this viewer of the young James Dean. He is able to make an essentially negative person into someone about whom we care very much. Likewise, Henrik Lundstr&#246 m molds his character with dignity, humor and honor and is the perfect foil for Wilson's transformation. The cinematography by Peter Mokrosinski and the musical score by Francis Shaw add exactly the right atmosphere for this daring little drama. Highly recommended. Grady Harp