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Comedy Cult Classic

A Swedish summer turns steamy as a young violinist faces tangled desires and awkward awakenings.

ONE SWEDISH SUMMER

Once, to every young man comes a summer like this.

1968 · 1h 45m · X · Comedy / Drama / Romance · IMDB TMDB

A young, shy and inexperienced man travels back to Sweden, to spend the summer at his mother's house. He meets a number of women with whom he has sexual relations.

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Vault Note

Proof that Swedish summers can be short, but never short on complications.

Programmer's Pick

One Swedish Summer brings together sun-drenched Scandinavian landscapes, an awkward young violinist, and more sexual confusion than a midsummer night’s fever dream. With its frank approach to desire and a cast of women who turn the tables on our hapless hero, this is a coming-of-age tale that’s both candid and uniquely Swedish.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is One Swedish Summer about?

One Swedish Summer is a 1968 Swedish comedy-drama-romance film directed by Gunnar Höglund about a young music student whose sexual awakenings disrupt his life as he spends a summer navigating relationships and self-discovery.

Details & Specs
Director
Gunnar Höglund
Writers
Gunnar Höglund, Gustav Sandgren
Release
1968
Runtime
1h 45m
Country
Sweden
Language
Swedish
Also Known As
One Swedish Summer, ...som havets nakna vind (original title)

Synopsis

Leander, a young music student, discovers that his awakening sexual desires are disturbing his ability to concentrate. After an embarrassing failure with a prostitute, Leander leaves Switzerland to spend the summer with his widowed mother in Sweden and, returning home, discovers that his relationship with his sister Mae is jeopardized by their mutual desire for each other. Aino, the Finnish maid, provides Leander with sexual fulfillment, but she soon rejects him for a young fisherman. 

Becoming increasingly uncertain of himself, Leander meets three young women vacationing nearby. The candid aggressiveness and gaiety of Gerda, Susanne, and Lola change Leander's outlook on life, and during the following days he makes love with each of them. Mae becomes jealous of the girls, and when Leander discovers that she is only his half-sister, he makes love to her also. At the summer's end, Leander asks Susanne to stay with him; her answer is mysterious to everyone but Leander, to whom she gives a private token of her affection.

Why Cult

Awkward Awakenings

Leander’s struggles with sexual desire and self-doubt provide a raw, comedic, and sometimes painfully relatable edge.

Scandinavian Sensuality

Set against the backdrop of a Swedish summer, the film doesn't shy away from candid portrayals of intimacy and allure.

Female-Forward Characters

Gerda, Susanne, and Lola bring assertiveness and humor, challenging traditional roles and shaking up Leander’s world.

Trailer

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

What is One Swedish Summer about? +

One Swedish Summer follows Leander, a young music student whose sexual desires disrupt his focus, leading to a summer in Sweden filled with intimate encounters and personal discoveries.

When was One Swedish Summer released? +

One Swedish Summer was released in 1968.

Who directed One Swedish Summer? +

One Swedish Summer was directed by Gunnar Höglund.

How long is One Swedish Summer? +

The runtime of One Swedish Summer is 105 minutes.

What genre is One Swedish Summer? +

One Swedish Summer is a comedy, drama, and romance film.

Where can I watch One Swedish Summer? +

You can watch One Swedish Summer on SassyFlix.