Introduced by Olle Hedman "Swedish cinema has its roots in the films of directors Viktor Sjm and Mauritz Stiller, over seventy years ago. This tradition is realistic-a portrayal of man in nature, man against the elements and the inner and outer linings of the human spirit. It produced cinematic narratives of great visual energy. Ingmar Bergman subsequently continued to explore the twilight landscape of Northern Europe. Swedish film still demonstrates strength in a kind of isolation-provincialism. Stemming visually from this Nordic culture, and influenced by European art, Swedish experimental film also gained important impetus from the American underground cinema." --Claes Suist