Erotikon

Erotikon, a silent-era film from Sweden, released in 1920 and directed by visionary director Mauritz Stiller, is a complex film that dares to push convention about love, sexuality, and the societal norms of the time. This Scandinavian film offers thoughtful character portrayals by accomplished actors Anders de Wahl, Tora Teje, Karin Molander, and others.

Starring the legendary Anders de Wahl, the film uncovers a tantalizing tale of love and relationships. De Wahl plays Leo Charpentier, a respected entomologist with a deep fascination for beetles, who is seen ignoring his wife’s needs and display a strikingly aloof tone towards his marriage and matters of the heart. His wife, Irene Charpentier, played by Tora Teje, is a vivacious woman looking for affirmation in a loveless marriage. She emerges as the film’s erotic symbol. Karin Molander, on the other hand, takes the role of a charming and flirtatious young woman named Marthe, whose vivaciousness creates a unforgettable chemistry with the cousin of Leo, Preben Wells, portrayed by Einar Hanson.

The genius of Erotikon lies in its exploration of sexuality and love from perspectives less explored in the silent era. Without using any explicit scenes, Stiller brilliantly showcases the sizzling dynamics of illicit attraction, romance, marital discontent, and unspoken desires. The film’s title, ‘Erotikon’, which connotes love or desire, sets the tone for the sensual, and at times scandalous, exploration of human relationships and emotions.

The story is set in the scenic landscapes of Stockholm, beautifully captured in black and white cinematography. The architecture and decor, including the antiquated trams, the historic Stockholm Opera House, and the traditional Swedish home interiors, all offer a rich visual journey back in time creating a retro chic visual impact. It smoothly oscillates between a Edwardian-style country house and the city’s sophisticated urban apartments, spas, and theaters.

Stiller wasn't simply content with packing the film with individual strong characters. He wove the narratives of these characters together, resulting in a composite that beautifully explores the gamut of human emotions. The dynamics between a husband more obsessed with his beetles than his wife, a wife seeking love and warmth outside her marriage, a captivating yet innocent young woman, and an athletic young aviator with his own sense of morality, all add depth and dimensions to the narrative.

What sets Erotikon apart from the films of that era is not only its mature treatment of the theme but also its decent into comedy - another rarity for the time. Both Leo, with his beetle obsession, and Preben, with his flirtatious nature, possess quirky characteristics that lend a comic touch to the narrative, making the film a trailblazer for future romantic comedies.

The film’s conventional score by Matti Bye augments the emotional aesthetics, including the dramatic scenes, adding an extra layer to the narrative's depth and ensuring the story never gets lost in silence.

Describing Erotikon as a provocative exploration of sex and romance won't be an exaggeration. However, it never descends into vulgarity or crudeness. Instead, the skilful director employs ingenious mechanisms, such as suggestive metaphors and visual insinuations, to portray latent desires and passions. Meticulously crafted, Erotikon boasts an intensely captivating film language, filled with sophisticated humor, scandalous yet empathetic characters, an engaging storyline, and a fresh take on silent cinema.

Despite being a product of the early 20th century, Erotikon's narrative holds relevance even today. Its portrayal of the complexity of human relationships, the yearning for love and affection, the trouble of dealing with societal norms and moral constraints, all resonate with the audience of every era, making it a timeless piece of cinematic art.

In conclusion, Erotikon is a cinematic gem of the 1920s that dared to push boundaries by portraying love and lust in an almost scandalous, but empathetic and engaging fashion. With outstanding performances from its main cast and a deep understanding of human emotions, Mauritz Stiller's Erotikon remains a must-watch film for any enthusiast wanting to explore silent era films with a strong narrative and ahead-of-time themes.