491 on AllMovie

Based on a Lars Goerling novel, the Swedish 491 took on a life of its own thanks to its myriad of censorship problems. The basic story concerns a group of juvenile delinquents, in particular a girl (Lena Nyman) and a boy (Leif Nymark). The film's censorial sore points included scenes between homosexuals and an interlude with a prostitute; also, bestiality was suggested, though never shown. Filmmaker Vilgot Sjoman had to go all the way to Swedish Parliament to get his film into theatres; this he accomplished only after making several judicious cuts, and redubbing certain dialogue passages. In the US, the film didn't have a chance; this was, after all still the Production Era. Bloody but unbowed, Vilgot Sjoman went on to direct the even more graphic and controversial I Am Curious-Yellow (1967) - which did get an American release.