Ingmar Bergman’s 1953 film SOMMAREN MED MONIKA (The Summer with Monika) introduces us to Harry (Lars Ekborg), a young man full of hope, who encounters Monika (Harriet Andersson), a woman living without boundaries. Dissatisfied with their monotonous jobs as summer arrives, they both leave them behind and head out to one of the many islands in the Stockholm archipelago. While Harry is focused on returning to society and continuing his schooling so he can provide for the child they’re expecting, Monika doesn't concern herself much with planning ahead, instead choosing to follow her impulses. The story clearly centers on Harry, and it’s easy to feel compassion for him as this woman disrupts his life. When SOMMAREN MED MONIKA was first released, it helped shape Sweden’s image in the middle of the 20th century as a place with relaxed attitudes towards sexuality. However, that aspect feels distant now. There's only one instance of (rear) nudity, and most of what shocked audiences back then is just some kissing that wouldn’t cause a stir today. Still, Andersson certainly knows how to project her allure, using her lips and figure to engage the viewer. I don’t consider this to be among Bergman’s best work. He later made films that profoundly impacted me, but SOMMAREN MED MONIKA is a fairly standard look at working-class existence and a moral lesson similar to what British audiences would begin experiencing with their kitchen sink dramas (like BILLY LIAR) shortly after. There's also an entirely artificial -- and rather confusing -- fight scene that Bergman seems to have added just to make Harry appear heroic. It is, however, fascinating to see a Sweden marked by significant class differences, a reality that has largely disappeared, with families struggling with alcoholism and poverty living near more privileged Stockholm residents who employ domestic help. The opening portion of the film felt almost like listening to an Allan Pettersson symphony. Overall, SOMMAREN MED MONIKA is enjoyable and offers insight into a different time and place, but don’t expect it to be one of the important films that cemented Ingmar Bergman's reputation as a groundbreaking and perceptive filmmaker of the 20th century.

Source on TMDB