All Things Fair (1995), written and directed by Bo Widerberg, is a haunting Swedish drama set against the backdrop of World War II. The story unfolds in Malmö, where 15-year-old student Stig becomes infatuated with his 37-year-old teacher Viola. The youthful curiosity soon develops into a secret and forbidden relationship that changes both of their lives forever.
Viola, trapped in a loveless marriage to her alcoholic husband, Kjell, seeks solace in Stig’s innocence and admiration. For her, he represents a release from despair; for her, he symbolizes desire, mystery, and adulthood. As their relationship deepens, Stig also befriends Kjell, who, aware of the relationship, chooses to remain silent—creating a complex triangle of love, betrayal, and guilt.
Widerberg skillfully captures the blurred lines between passion and morality, youth and maturity, and innocence and corruption. When Stig finally falls in love with a girl his own age, Viola’s jealousy takes the story to a tragic, emotional climax.
With outstanding performances by Johan Widerberg and Marika Lagercrantz, All Things Fair remains a bold exploration of desire, power, and the destructive value of forbidden love. (IMDb rating: 6.8)