Joe Sarnos
Inga (Jag - en oskuld) was the directors biggest ever
hit and became one of the iconic erotic movies of the
1960s. Its also something of an oddity, being an
American sexploitation movie shot in Sweden with a mixed
American-Swedish crew. The result is a surprisingly
successful blending of the European art-house movie with
Sarnos distinctive style of very American
sexploitation.
Former ballerina Marie Liljedahl became an international
sex symbol after this provocative exploitation film from
director Joe Sarno. Liljedahl stars as Inga, a studious
virgin who goes to stay with her 32-year old Aunt Greta
(Monica Strommerstedt) at her home in Stockholm. The
nubile Inga''s presence disrupts the household, stirring
trouble with Greta''s kept boytoy Karl and her secret
admirer Einar. Although melodramatic and trite, the film
did a great deal of box-office business due to its
steamy content and the frequent sexual activity of its
beautiful young star.
Joseph Sarno, the name should ring a bell for those of
you interested in sexploitation cinema, directed the box
office smash Inga in 1968. The film was a huge success
both in Sweden, where its filmed, and internationally.
Starring the beautiful Marie Liljedahl in her first, and
perhaps most memorable role, as the beautiful young
virgin Inga. The film may seem as just another sex film
from a decade when they were in bundles, but Inga is
much more than that. Using heavy elements of drama,
Sarno creates a hauntingly beautiful and deeply erotic
look at the free love generation of the 60s. Sarno
tells a very compelling story with steady direction and
the pacing throughout the film is excellent. The scenery
in the film is very beautiful, whether its downtown
Stockholm or in the luxury middle class houses of the
characters. The acting in the film is very good, and
both Liljedahl as Inga and Monica Strommerstedt as her
aunt are great in their roles. The soundtrack in the
film by Clay Pitts is really just amazing, and features
some really catchy rock tunes and some more emotional,
slow pieces that just incorporate itself in the film
brilliantly. Inga is perhaps not as shocking today as it
was for audiences in the 60s, nevertheless it still
remains an important part in the history of erotic
cinema. If you want to see a really good sex film from
the early sixties you need to see Inga, a powerful piece
of sexploitation and a significant piece of motion
picture history. Highly recommended!!
Patrick, excerpt from Repulsive Cinema
The disc includes:
- Swedish version of the film. A separate video file
includes the entire film in Swedish. The films run the
same length and there do not seem to be any differences
in editing, some dialogue is changed slightly, but not
changing the story at all. Picture quality is a little
more grainy but still watchable. Includes burnt-in
English subs - they are white and can be sometimes hard
to make out properly.
- Audio commentary with Joe Sarno, his wife Peggy (who
was involved heavily in the film), producer Sam Sherman
and moderated by Bruce Hollenbeck. Slow in paces but
with a lot of interesting information.
- Two theatrical trailers, both emphasising the sex
scenes.
- An interview with Marie Liljedahl - audio only, asks
some interesting questions about her involvement with
this film, but leaves many interesting questions
unanswered. (10 minutes).
- "Outtakes" - extra footage of the dancing party scenes
and what seems to be an alternate take of the shower
scene (although it looks identical to that in the final
film). A curio. (10 minutes)
- Trailers for other Retro-seduction releases: 2069: A
Sexy Odyssey, Naughty Stewardesses, Female Animal,
Masters Plaything, Seduction of Inga, I Like Girls Who
Do and Possession of Nurse Sherri.
- Trailers for other modern Seduction Cinema projects:
Misty Mundae: Mummy Raider, Erotic Vampire in Paris,
Gladiator Eroticvs, Erotic Survivor 2, Vampire
Obsession, Erotic Mirror and Sexy 6th Sense.
