In the early 20th century, Agnes von Krusenstjerna (Stina Ekblad) is trying to break free from her bourgeoisie life and become a respected but provocative author. Mai Zetterling’s grand comeback as a director reconnects with one of her most lauded works, Loving Couples (1964), as it chronicles the life of von Krusenstjerna who wrote the novels behind that film. Her suffering and mental torment, where the marriage to a fellow writer plays a key part, is a lot to endure. Not easy to penetrate, but Ekblad is very good and the movie is often a visual feast, as in the tumultuous opening scenes during the Venice carnival.
1986-Sweden. 117 min. Color. Written and directed by Mai Zetterling. Cinematography: Rune Ericson. Cast: Stina Ekblad (Agnes von Krusenstjerna), Erland Josephson (David Sprengel), Philip Zandén (Adolf von Krusenstjerna), Peter Schildt, Olof Thunberg, Catherine de Seynes… Lena T. Hansson, Johan Rabaeus, Mimi Pollak, Börje Ahlstedt, Gösta Krantz, Inga Gill, Inga Landgré, Margreth Weivers, Anita Björk, Heinz Hopf, Allan Svensson.
