Evil

Synopsis: In 1950s Sweden, sixteen-year-old Erik Ponti's (Andreas Wilson) life is tainted by violence and conflict at both home and school. When he is expelled for fighting other students and has no possibility of transferring to another state school, his mother sells her heirlooms to pay for her only child to attend the Stjärnsberg Boarding School, a prestigious boys' academy. Confident that he can start anew, Erik is dismayed that the cycle of violence has far from ended and the school is not a refuge. For at Stjärnsberg , evil is systematized in the form of condoned violent oppression of younger students by their seniors. The teachers turn a blind eye as the older pupils implement their reign of terror, creating a hierarchical society based on class and age. Despite good advice from his studious roommate and best friend, Pierre (Henrik Lundström), to keep a low profile, Erik reveals his rebellious side through persistently disobeying the rules set by a small group of senior pupils, headed by sadistic snob Otto Silverhielm (Gustaf Skarsgård). Fearful of being expelled again, Erik retaliates to their vicious torments with his verbal skills rather than his fighting abilities. After Erik becomes the school swimming champion and a hero to the junior students, Silverhielm and his cruel classmates make the young teenager's life even more miserable. Notwithstanding more suffering, Erik remains steadfast in curbing the violence in his life. That is, until he is forced to defend the honor and name of his best friend whom the bullies have tortured in order to get Erik to break down and accept the challenge of a fight.   Source: Magnolia Pictures