Film Review: I Am Curious (Yellow) (Jag är nyfiken – en film i gult, 1967)

In the third quarter of the 20th century, Sweden had earned a reputation as the most sexually liberated country in the world. This stereotype was largely crafted from a select few Swedish films from the 1950s and 1960s that dared to include erotic content rarely seen in cinema at the time. Among these, the 1967 drama I Am Curious (Yellow) stands out as particularly influential, especially in the United States, where it is often cited as a pivotal event in the Sexual Revolution. This film, directed by Vilgot Sjöman, is a bold exploration of sexuality and societal norms, wrapped in a controversial and avant-garde package.

Vilgot Sjöman, the writer and director, was ambitious and sought to challenge the dominance of Ingmar Bergman as Sweden's most renowned filmmaker. Sjöman's films were notorious for pushing boundaries and tackling controversial subjects, often employing avant-garde styles inspired by the French New Wave and other contemporary European cinema movements. I Am Curious (Yellow) is a prime example of his experimental approach, blending cinema verité documentary techniques with live-action fiction and meta-commentary. This unique fusion creates a film that is as much a commentary on its own making as it is a narrative piece.

Sjöman sets the tone from the outset by introducing himself as a "42-year-old director" involved in a romantic relationship with Lena Nyman, a 22-year-old stage actress who becomes the star of his film. Nyman portrays a character also named Lena, a young woman whose rebellious spirit is evident in her adoption of radical left-wing causes and her unapologetically promiscuous lifestyle. Lena lives with her father, played by Peter Lindgren, who surprisingly tolerates her romantic escapades, including bringing her latest lover, Börje (Börje Ahlstedt), home for sex. Their relationship becomes strained when Lena discovers Börje has a child with another woman and supports right-wing conservatives. Paralleling this narrative, Sjöman's own relationship with Nyman ends, partly due to his jealousy toward Ahlstedt.

The film's notoriety stems significantly from its explicit content, including extensive nudity and simulated sex scenes. One particularly risqué scene features Lena gently fondling her lover’s flaccid penis. While this content may seem tame by today's standards, it was groundbreaking and contributed to the normalisation of sexual content in European cinema during that era. The film's explicit nature was a deliberate choice by Sjöman to challenge societal norms and push the boundaries of what was acceptable on screen.

When I Am Curious (Yellow) was released in the United States by Grove Press in 1969, it sparked intense controversy and faced various bans and obscenity charges. Grove Press, book publishing company known for its successful legal battles against censorship, ultimately won the court cases, turning the film into an underground sensation. Celebrity endorsements and public commentary further fuelled its popularity, a phenomenon that would be repeated with the release of Deep Throat three years later. I Am Curious (Yellow) became the most commercially successful foreign film in US cinema history, a title it held until Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon surpassed it three decades later.

However, viewers expecting groundbreaking erotica may be disappointed. Despite its explicit sexual content, the film presents it in a remarkably non-erotic manner. Lena Nyman, while a talented actress, does not fit the conventional mold of a sex symbol. Her fuller figure is even commented on within the film, and her struggles with maintaining a proper weight become a part of the plot. This focus on her physical appearance and its implications adds a layer of complexity to her character but does little to enhance the erotic appeal of the film.

The erotic nature of I Am Curious (Yellow) is further diluted by its lack of focus and complex structure. The film intertwines Lena's sexual adventures with her exploration of Sweden's economic, social, and political issues, creating a mosaic of 1960s Swedish society. This historical context, while fascinating, especially to modern viewers interested in the era, often overshadows the film's erotic themes. The depiction of 1960s Sweden as a land of paradoxes—a socialist monarchy that avoided world wars but maintained a military draft—provides a rich backdrop for Lena's journey. Her interviews with ordinary people about class division, gender equality, and international politics add depth to the film but also distract from its erotic content.

One of the most intriguing and somewhat morbid aspects of the film is the inclusion of real-life interviews with famous personalities, sometimes edited to create the illusion of direct interactions with the protagonists. These include Russian poet Yevgeniy Yevtushenko, American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and Swedish transportation minister and future prime minister Olof Palme. Two of these three individuals—King and Palme—would tragically meet their ends through high-profile assassinations, adding a layer of historical poignancy to the film.

In 1968, Sjöman released a sequel or companion piece titled I Am Curious (Blue), primarily composed of unused materials from the previous film. This sequel depicts Lena's adventures before and after the events of I Am Curious (Yellow), providing a broader context for her story. While it is well-shot, well-directed, and excellently acted, I Am Curious (Yellow) remains an acquired taste and may struggle to find an audience beyond those interested in 1960s history. Despite its reputation as a harbinger of the Sexual Revolution on the big screen, it often works best as a curiosity piece rather than a stand-alone film of its own merit.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

LeoDex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9