In the dark corridors of Sweden in the 1950s, violence and domination reign supreme. Evilthe new series broadcast this Thursday, November 28 at 8:50 p.m. on Arte, plunges us into the heart of this disturbing reality. Inspired by the autobiographical novel The Factory of Violence by Jan Guillou, this six-episode production combines psychological thriller and historical drama to dissect the oppressive mechanisms of institutional brutality.
Already adapted for cinema in 2003 under the nameThe evil (« Evil » in English) by director Mikael Håfström, the story of Erik, a teenager caught in a vicious circle of abuse, takes on a new intensity in this chilling show.
A gripping story inspired by true events
Evil is based on the youthful memories of the author, a former student of a prestigious boarding school, but marked by institutional brutality. In 1950s Sweden, Erik Ponti (Isac Calmroth) is expelled from his high school for aggressive behavior. Pushed by his mother to continue his education, he joined Stjernsberg, a renowned elitist establishment. But behind the appearance of excellence hides a chilling reality: violence is established as a system, maintained by an all-powerful “student council”, supported by a complicit management.
As Erik tries to rebuild himself, the spiral of evil tightens around him. Victim of abuse from his stepfather, he must now face daily humiliations orchestrated by former students. The friendship he forms with Pierre, his roommate, and his attachment to Marja (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), a school employee, offer some glimmers of hope. But this fragile balance is constantly threatened by the law of the strongest.
A heavy and trying series
With a stripped-down staging and a heavy atmosphere, Evil offers a universal reflection on the reproduction of patterns of violence, which seems to bring together all the ingredients to captivate and shock spectators. This approach did not fail to provoke strong reactions. Tele-Leisure warns: “Evil is not friendly or pleasant. It is violent, harsh, uncompromising, psychologically stifling, often visually taxing. »
A work which, according to the magazine, offers “a real dizziness” by exploring an evil that “is neither innate nor spontaneous, but acquired and, above all, reproduced”. If it is clear that the series does not fit into the register of light entertainment, the media concludes with confidence: “Will your evening be successful if you watch this Swedish miniseries? Clearly yes. »
More mixed opinions
Pour Humanity, Evil mixes the brutality of the story with a melancholic depth that challenges. The newspaper highlights the journey of Erik, a teenager stuck in “a spiral of violence when everything brings us back to it”between the beatings of an abusive father and the humiliations imposed by boarding school. If violence dominates, The They salutes the light that represents Marja, young employee of the boarding school and moral conscience of the show.
Telerama nevertheless appears more reserved, expressing a certain disappointment with the whole thing. If the magazine recognizes a “testing dive into the mysteries of a misguided educational institution”he regrets an overly conventional production, described as “classic invoice”lacking originality. The narration is also criticized for its cumbersomeness, particularly due to “the heaviness of a voice-over which dialectizes around the themes of evil and individual freedom”.
