Former child star Shirley Temple famously resigned from the San Francisco Film Festival in protest of the film, labeling it "pornography for profit".
The 1966 Swedish film Night Games (original title: Nattlek ), directed by , is a psychodrama centered on Jan, an emotionally stunted man who returns to his childhood estate with his fiancée to confront his repressed past. Plot Summary Night Games (1966) 1080p
While some critics like Pauline Kael were dismissive, others noted its deep exploration of Freudian notions like Oedipal desire and childhood trauma. Former child star Shirley Temple famously resigned from
Watch this excerpt to see the atmospheric and decadent style of the film's childhood flashbacks: Excerpt from "Night Games (1966)" Allusion to Shadow YouTube• Jan 17, 2023 Watch this excerpt to see the atmospheric and
At the time of its release, Night Games was highly controversial:
It was considered so scandalous that it had to be screened privately for the jury.
The "useful story" of the film explores how Jan’s current struggles—including literal and symbolic impotence—are rooted in his decadent and traumatic upbringing. Through a series of flashbacks, the narrative reveals: