Sweden: Heaven and Hell

Sweden: Heaven and Hell

Genre: Mondo Film

Original title: Svezia, inferno e paradiso

Director: Luigi Scattini

Year: 1968

Sweden... where the facts of life are stranger than fiction!

Sweden: Heaven and Hell is a pseudo-documentary that focuses mostly on sexuality in sweden. I was expecting some kind of ultra sleazy documentary that veered into almost soft-core porn territory but apart from a bit of nudity scattered throughout this Mondo film never decides to go in that direction. 

The documentary begins with a credit screen that states that "All the scenes of the film were filmed live, and inspired and referred to real life. All references to facts and people are NOT coincidences". So there we have it, crystal clear proof that everything we are about to see is the gospel truth, and of course not staged! 

So heres what I learnt from the documentary..,,

- Swedish students spent their weekends on boats taking drugs and sleeping with multiple partners

- Biker gangs run the out streets of Stockholm gang-raping women they find wondering nearby 

- Swedish women love black men for "how primitive and straight to the point they are"

-  In Sweden, all-female R&B bands perform in clubs, with their breasts out

- Parking attendants are all beautiful blonde women

- On a daily basis, teenagers that try to rob cars are caught by the cars owners and beaten, resulting in the car owner being arrested for assault. 

- Westerns & James Bond films are prohibited whilst sex films are allowed as they "spread the message of love which will mean there can be no war"

- Swedish people love to go deep sea diving!

- Swedish swingers clubs look like bingo halls

- Alcoholics are refused in alcohol stores so drink shoe polish and sniff petrol instead

- Drink drivers who are caught are sentenced to three months in the countryside where they will cut wood and drink milk

It's narrated by Edmund Purdom who actually appeared in a few Italian genre films back in the day. As well as showing us the more sensational aspects of Swedish life he comments on issues such as the concept of day care & the fact that "75% of Swedish women have jobs" as if it is some kind of alien concept.

The films highlight is the score by Piero Umiliani, who composed scores for films such as 5 Dolls for an August Moon, Massacre Time & Orgasmo. It's a mixture of lounge music & your typical late 60s psychedelic rock that helps to keep some of the duller scenes (such as a lengthy crack-house scene) from becoming tiresome. 

Sweden: Heaven & Hell is the sort of film which I guess could be considered offensive with its portrayal of Swedish culture. Yet looking back on it 40+ years later you can't help but watch it with a smile on your face & wonder if people really did view Sweden as this kind of sex crazed, drug taking, deep sea diving(!) country. Also, I wonder how many people visited the country shortly after seeing the film only to return home in utter disappointment? The fact that films like this even existed fascinates me & its bizarre nature led me to view this more as a comedy. Whilst this was clearly unintentional on behalf of the film-makers, a film like this sums up what I consider a cult movie to be. What was supposed to once shock and astound you now plays as a film which will have you burst out in laughter on plenty of occasions. 

Rating: ★★★