Flickorna (aka The Girls) (1968)

Three actresses (Bibi Andersson, Harriet Andersson, Gunnel Lindblom) are in a touring production of Aristophanes' LYSISTRATA. Leaving behind husbands and lovers to tour with the play, the actresses can relate to the feminist message of the Aristophanes play. Inspired by LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes and directed by actress turned director Mai Zetterling. The movie was not a critical or financial success upon its original release (it pretty much stalled Zetterling's career as a director) but its reputation (as well as Zetterling's as a director) has grown through the ensuing years. A politically charged example of feminist cinema, Zetterling's film balances reality with an almost surreal landscape of angry female rage against a patriarchal system that treats them as second class citizens. Using three of Ingmar Bergman's most notable actresses, it's not an easy movie to digest and one can see why it wasn't popular in 1968. Its narrative isn't simple and it's often difficult to navigate what is actually real and what is in the heroines' mind. A provocative film that pays dividends if you stick with it. With Erland Josephson and Gunnar Bjornstrand.