Lust och fägring stor

All Things Fair is set in Malmö during the spring term of 1943. Stig, a third year student, is the main character of the story. He is known by the slightly derogatory name of ''stockholmaren'', since he was born there. Stig meets and starts a relationship with Viola, a 37 year old woman who becomes his class teacher. The fact that Stig is considerably younger and also her student makes their relationship more complicated, but it does not make it impossible. Their love story changes his entire existence. Viola, on the other hand, has a none-too-perfect marriage. Her husband Kjell, a travelling salesman in ladies' underwear, is a small man who dreams of making it big. Stig's and Viola's infatuation finally goes beyond reason. It has been nine years since Bo Widerberg's last film, The Serpent's Way. He returns with a film whose title is taken from the second line of the classic end-of-term hymn, the song that is sung on the last day of our story. Widerberg himself says of the film: ''You have to realize that at this period in time it was a relationship that was considered criminal. Stig is only around 15 and in a position of dependence upon Viola. She risks losing her job if they are found out. Who instigates the relationship and what is the reason for it we do not know. Maybe they are both guilty of what goes on between them.'' Junior school was a four year long education which followed six years of secondary school. ''I went to junior school myself, which led to a graduation and a grey hat'', he continues. ''The school was strictly segregated with boys' or girls' classes only. There was an incredible difference between the pupils in these classes, both physically and mentally. The strict sex segregation meant that there was a lack of natural outlet for their pent-up lust.'' All Things Fair is filled with references to the ongoing war and Widerberg claims that ''krigsstämningen'' (the feeling of war) is important. The shooting took approximately 70 days and went on during the summer of '94 in Malmo. All the scenes were shot at an old disused school that was being renovated. ''We had the opportunity to make use of the entire school, which was valuable. The corridors with their original coat-hooks were still there, and gave the film a true period feel.” So Widerberg worked on All Things Fair during the entire winter and spring. ''It feels good to have been able to give the film the time it needed'', he says.

Medverkande
Johan Widerberg, Marika Lagerkrantz, Tomas von Brömssen: Producent
Per Holst: Manus
Bo Widerberg: Foto
Morten Bruus: Musik
Various classic: Talat språk
Swedish