Freethinker (The)
Original Title
Fritänkaren- Director: Peter Watkins
- Writer: Hedvig Blidberg; Charlie Kristiansson
CGiii Comment
Running at an inexcusable 276 minutes - Watkins revels in his docu-drama without any consideration for his audience...
Few would sit through this amateur depiction of Strinberg...the first few minutes reveals the director's minimum effort...that effort doesn't improve.
Strictly for those who appreciate Watkins' indulgence.
Trailer...
THE FREETHINKER (Peter Watkins, 1994) from Spectacle Theater on Vimeo.
The(ir) Blurb...
The film portrays the Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter August Strindberg's life 1849-1912. Through his extensive correspondence and literary production, from the supposed first work, the drama "The Free Thinker" (1869), to the posthumously published "The Occult Diary" (published 1977 ). But also his three wives, Siri von Essen, Frida Uhl and Harriet Bosse, and the children Karin, Greta and Hans are given space in the film. The unpublished first drama "The Free Thinker", depicts a young man forced to break with family and tradition to follow his conscience and ideals, becomes a prophecy about the author's own life.
Cast & Characters
Yasmine Garbi as Harriet Bosse;
Anders Mattsson as August Strindberg;
Lena Settervall as Siri von Essen