Love Lessons

Set in Malmö, Sweden, during the height of World War II, ‘Love Lessons’ (originally titled ‘Lust och fägring stor’ and internationally released as ‘All Things Fair’) is a poignant coming-of-age drama directed by Bo Widerberg. The story revolves around Stig, a precocious 15-year-old student who becomes entangled in a passionate and forbidden love affair with his 37-year-old schoolteacher, Viola. While the relationship initially offers Stig an exciting escape into adulthood, it quickly grows increasingly complex and suffocating as Viola’s emotional instability and loneliness come to the forefront.

As the affair progresses, Stig also forms a bizarre and tragic bond with Viola’s husband, Kjell, an eccentric and alcoholic salesman who is unaware of the affair but seeks companionship. This unusual dynamic forces Stig to confront the harsh realities of adult relationships, jealousy, and betrayal. The film masterfully explores the loss of innocence against the backdrop of wartime anxiety, capturing the intense emotional turbulence of youth and the painful lessons learned through forbidden desire.