Jag - en oskuld: Inga

From Sweden...The classic female concept (?)

Today's review marks the "return to our roots" in our cult films blog. And what could be better than a film that marked the beginning of Swedish Sexploitation?

Inga is a 1968 Swedish sexploitation film directed by Joseph W. Sarno. The film is starred by the rather unknown and beautiful starlet Marie Liljedhal. However, our blog is here to make that change, so let me tell you all about this beautiful Swedish actress:

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Liljedahl became a stage actress at the age of ten, and a member of the Royal Swedish Opera ballet at the age of twelve. She was discovered dancing with a Stockholm ballet company by director Joseph W. Sarno. Although her acting career was brief (1966-1971) She's long remember for her leading role debut of Inga, a teenage girl who's about to meet the man of her dreams. After the rather moderate success of the film she would start other sexploitation films (which we'll be covering soon) 

At seventeen, she began her film career with the lead role in Sarno's Inga (1968), which transformed her into an international sex symbol. Her other film roles included Sybil Vane in Dorian Gray (1970) and Eugenie in Eugenie... the Story of Her Journey Into Perversion (1970). In 1971, she appeared in the sequel to Inga, The Seduction of Inga, her last major role. She grew weary of the film industry and retired from acting at the age of twenty-one.

Liljedahl appeared in two Playboy magazine pictorials: "The Girls of Scandinavia" (June 1968) and "Flicker Flicka" (March 1969). 

Another Swedish starlet as beautiful as Christina Lindberg.

Marie Liljedhal's perfect ass.

Inga (Jag - en oskuld), Joe Sarno's first film shot in Sweden, is not only one of the directors most popular films but also one of his finest. Released in 1968 to both shocked and receptive filmgoers, Inga remains one of the definitive Joe Sarno productions. Shot in beautiful and crisp Black and White by Bruce G. Sparks and starring the absolutely unforgettable Marie Liljedahl, seen here as the title character in her first starring role, Inga is a breathtaking production that is as poetic as it is erotic and as haunting as it is sensual. 

Sarno was already a veteran behind the camera when he headed to Europe in 1967 to shoot what would become the first in quite a few films he made in Sweden, and he immediately took advantage of the more relaxed censorship laws in place for Inga, although viewed by today's standards it is fairly mild stuff. While time might have taken away some of its shock factor, Inga still resonates far deeper than most films dealing with sexual awakening could ever hope to. It's a lovely production highlighted by Sarno's gentle direction and Liljedahl's stunning performance that manages to be both incredibly naive and completely aware. The rest of the cast is just as good, with special note going to Monica Strömmerstedt as Inga's aunt Greta. 

it's time to play with other toys.

C'mon Inga, cock is good for your health.

Sarno's probing character study is available in a rather splendid special edition from Retro-Seduction cinema and it features two versions of the film, as well as several terrific extras like an audio commentary, outtakes and an audio interview with Liljedahl. While not Sarno's greatest work, it is an ideal entryway into his canon and it remains one of the sixties defining films. 

Inga, deserves to be in your collection because it is a film that pioneered topics like the adolescent sexual awakening with graphic content(graphic and shocking for those days anyways). Later when the saucy 70's began many films would follow the same storyline as premised by Inga: gorgeous teenage girls looking for sexual adventures (just check our "Sexploitation" & "Sexual Innuendo" labels and you'll find hundreds of films) Of course, as censorship changed, the films were made more and more explicit, up to the point they became porno films with a plot (check the "Zodiac Saga" label to see what I mean)

Inga takes a shower for the viewer's pleasure.

Beautiful, isn't she?

At the end of the Sixties, anti-conceptive became widely available. So for the first time in history sex could be disconnected from childbirth. This caused a true wave of hedonism, reflected in films like 'Inga'. Made in Sweden, of course, because in those days Sweden was regarded as leading -- which probably had much to do with the Scandinavians' traditional relaxed attitude towards sex and nudity.

Actually, 'Inga' got down so well in the late 1960-s, that its title became a sort of trademark-name for all the soft-core films of its era. As a matter of facts, many films had a character named Inga just because it would mean "Wiling, teenage, horny & (sometimes) virgin" to the aware audience. Nevertheless, this film was made with class and content, and where many of its imitators fail, Inga succeeds because nudity wasn't what actually drove the story.  In addition, the story line was believable: a girl who loses her parents and is taken care by her mean aunt who desires nothing but to continue her "first class social life" through her newfound niece marital future. Unfortunately, Inga doesn't fall in love with an influential rich man's son, so her aunt's plans are somewhat screwed.

Don't look at my tits, you can come in and play!

You can cum inside if you want, I'm taking pills you know.

Overall, one of the earliest attempts in cinema to move on from the censorship the industry had in the 60's. Although not as shocking as other films that came afterwards, this movie delivers an interesting story developed with interesting characters and most importantly, with the adequate actors & actresses to portray a believable film. Once Inga, became a hit, it was only a matter of time until the sequel would show up. Fortunately, the sequel kept Marie Liljedhal as the lead role and offered a much sexually opened and way more graphic update on here whereabouts since she turned sweet 18...

Not a virgin anymore.

Here's the US version of the movie trailer:

And here's the public domain version of the film: