Jan-Erik Widgren meets the lonely Bertha Olsson, a woman struggling with alcoholism. Though Bertha is already linked to Caligula, Jan-Erik's heartless teacher, she begins a relationship with the boy anyway. When Caligula learns that Jan-Erik is having an affair with Bertha, he begins to torture his student psychologically. He reserves his cruelest behavior for Bertha, however, which results in a tragic turn of events.
Acting
Stig Järrel's Caligula: pure bureaucratic sadism made flesh.
Writing
Bergman's debut script simmers with repressed Scandinavian rage.
Cinematography
Shadows that swallow rooms whole.
Director
Alf Sjöberg
Stig Järrel
Caligula
Alf Kjellin
Jan-Erik Widgren
Mai Zetterling
Bertha Olsson
Olof Winnerstrand
Headmaster
Gösta Cederlund
Pippi
Hugo Björne
Dr. Nilsson
Olav Riégo
Mr. Widgren
Märta Arbin
Mrs. Widgren
Jan Molander
Pettersson
Gunnar Björnstrand
Teacher
Birger Malmsten
Kreutz, student
Stig Olin
Sandman, student
Richard Lund
Teacher (uncredited)
Carl-Olof Alm
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ingmar Bergman was 25 when he wrote this, his first produced screenplay, while working as a theatre director.
The film became a cornerstone of Swedish cinema's '40s wave, directly attacking the authoritarian school system Bergman himself endured.
SE
