Three actresses (Bibi Andersson, Harriet Andersson, Gunnel Lindblom) take the classic play ”Lysistrata” on the road, while subsequently dealing with the men in their lives. A feminist battle cry that wasn’t too well received at the time, but has nevertheless become a minor classic. The film blends scenes from the play with imaginary sequences and the actors’ relationships with men. That last part, this constant reliance on men, becomes a little tiresome, and the movie as a whole is messy. Still, the acting is superb and it’s clear that Mai Zetterling put the movie together with a lot of creativity, anger and passion.
1968-Sweden. 100 min. B/W. Directed by Mai Zetterling. Screenplay: Mai Zetterling, David Hughes. Cast: Bibi Andersson (Liz), Harriet Andersson (Marianne), Gunnel Lindblom (Gunilla), Gunnar Björnstrand, Erland Josephson, Frank Sundström… Stig Engström, Margreth Weivers, Ulf Palme, Ingvar Kjellson, Bertil Norström.
Trivia: Original title: Flickorna. The three leads discussed the making of the film in the documentary Lines From the Heart (1996).
