The language of love

The film that broke the Swedish film censorship!
The world's first serious sex education film. Sexologists drink coffee, smoke pipes and talk sex, illustrated by scenes with actors and authentic intercourse.
The Language of Love managed to break through the film censorship's resistance to sexual depictions on the big screen. The film became one of the biggest financial successes in Swedish film history. It cost 700,000 kronor to produce and brought in 6.5 million kronor in revenue in its first year.
In London, 30,000 English people demonstrated against the film, led by Cliff Richard. The placards read: “Sweden - more porn, more suicide, more alcoholism and more gonorrhea every year.” The Language of Love was completely banned in Norway and seized by American customs after a failed smuggling attempt. It was released by the Supreme Court several years later.

The film has been digitally restored by the Swedish Film Institute.

In English:
The world's first serious sex education film with graphic sex scenes. It was screened in regular cinemas and became a major international box office hit. Sexologists and doctors drink coffee, smoke a lot and talk about sex in a living room, intercut with scenes of actors illustrating sexual problems, masturbation and authentic intercourse.
Subtitles: English, German, French, Italian

Cast/Starring: Sten Hegeler, Inge Hegeler, Maj-Briht Bergström-Walan, Sture Cullhed, Kim Anderzon, Barbro Hiort af Ornäs, Leena Skoog, Solveig Andersson, Lasse Lundberg
Production: Swedish Film Productions Investment AB, Sweden 1969
Director: Torgny Wickman
Producer/Producer: Inge Ivarson

Extra material:
Inge and Maj-Briht about sex education films. Interview film with producer Inge Ivarson and sexologist Maj-Briht Bergström-Walan.
Film Review February 10, 1972
Interviews with director Torgny Wickman and Inge Ivarson. (c) Sveriges Television AB
Image gallery
Poster gallery
Trailer: The XYZ of Love
The Language of Love. The English-language version of the film, shot back-to-back with the Swedish version. The English-language version of the film, shot back-to-back with the Swedish version.

Length: 102 minutes
Image: Normal image (1:1.37), Color
Sound: Mono, Swedish speech
Year of recording: 1969