Amorosa

The film that closes Mai Zetterling’s filmography brings her career full circle: her debut, Loving Couples, was an adaptation of a novel by Agnes von Krusenstjerna, while Amorosa is a cinematic biography of the writer. Krusenstjerna remains both a great and controversial figure in Swedish literature – a rebellious aristocrat with a long history of stays in psychiatric hospitals, but above all, an author of books about women, their relationships, sexuality, desires, and struggles against imposed limitations. Zetterling tells her story by skillfully blending a delirious atmosphere with realism, crafting an inner portrait set against a precisely sketched social backdrop. Amorosa closely examines the relationship between Krusenstjerna and David Sprengel – her translator, collector of erotic experiences, and likely co-author of parts of her books. Her provocative, morally challenging works reflected the turbulent debates of the interwar period – debates on gender, art, and censorship. These same issues resonate strongly in Mai Zetterling’s cinema, as both women ultimately embraced the role of outsiders.

Małgorzata Sadowska

Mai Zetterling (1925–1994) was a Swedish actress, director, and screenwriter. She began her career as an actress and gained international recognition for her role in Torment (1944), directed by Alf Sjöberg. In the 1960s, she turned to directing, exploring themes such as loneliness and sexuality in her films. Her debut feature, Loving Couples (1964), sparked controversy at the Cannes Film Festival due to its bold depiction of sexuality.