Frenzy

film by Sjöberg

Also known as: “Hets”, “Torment”

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June 26, 2026

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The film Frenzy (original title: Hets), directed by Alf Sjöberg and written by Ingmar Bergman, was a pivotal work in the post-World War II Swedish film revival. Released in 1944, it gained international critical acclaim and helped to bring Swedish cinema to global attention. Sjöberg's direction broke from traditional stage influences, employing a lyrical style that influenced filmmakers like Bergman. The film is noted for its sensitive character portrayal and technical expertise.12

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Svensk Filmindustri
…as Hets (1944; Torment, or Frenzy), directed by Alf Sjöberg and written by Ingmar Bergman (who had joined Svensk in 1942), focused worldwide attention on Swedish films. In the 1940s and ’50s Svensk continued to encourage such experimental filmmakers as Gösta Werner and Arne Sucksdorff, who were producers of short…
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…as Hets (1944; Torment, or Frenzy), directed by Alf Sjöberg and written by Ingmar Bergman (who had joined Svensk in 1942), focused worldwide attention on Swedish films. In the 1940s and ’50s Svensk continued to encourage such experimental filmmakers as Gösta Werner and Arne Sucksdorff, who were producers of short…
Read More

Mai Zetterling
…appeared in Alf Sjöberg’s film Hets (Torment, or Frenzy). Ingmar Bergman wrote the script for Hets, and critics consider it the beginning of a new period in Swedish filmmaking.
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…appeared in Alf Sjöberg’s film Hets (Torment, or Frenzy). Ingmar Bergman wrote the script for Hets, and critics consider it the beginning of a new period in Swedish filmmaking.
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Ingmar Bergman
Life
…an original screenplay, Hets (1944; Frenzy, or Torment). This was directed by Alf Sjöberg, then Sweden’s leading film director, and was an enormous success, both at home and abroad. Largely as a result of this success, Bergman was, in 1945, given a chance to write and direct a film of…
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…an original screenplay, Hets (1944; Frenzy, or Torment). This was directed by Alf Sjöberg, then Sweden’s leading film director, and was an enormous success, both at home and abroad. Largely as a result of this success, Bergman was, in 1945, given a chance to write and direct a film of…
Read More