Doctor Glas (1968)
A Danish-Swedish psychological drama in which a doctor's forbidden desire for a clergyman's wife forces him to confront the darkest edges of conscience.
Doctor Glas - Movie Information
- Original Title: Dr. Glas
- Release Year: 1968
- Directed by: Mai Zetterling
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 23m
- Original Language: Danish
- Spoken Languages: Danish, Swedish
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 12, 1968 (Denmark - 15)
- Production Companies: Laterna Film
- Production Countries: Denmark, Sweden
Doctor Glas - Plot
Doctor Glas finds himself attracted to a young woman, married to a corrupt clergyman. She's miserable in her marriage, so he agrees to help in anyway he can. But he is quickly torn between passion and morality.
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Doctor Glas - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mai Zetterling
Main Cast
- Per Oscarsson
- Lone Hertz
- Ulf Palme
- Bente Dessau
- Nils Eklund
- Lars Lunøe
- Bendt Rothe
- Helle Hertz
- Ingolf David
- Jonas Bergström
Writers
- David Hughes
- Mai Zetterling
Producers
- Joseph Hardy
- Benni Korzen
- Mogens Skot-Hansen
Doctor Glas - FAQs
What is Doctor Glas about?
Doctor Glas follows a physician who becomes emotionally entangled with a young woman suffering in a loveless marriage to a corrupt clergyman. Caught between his growing desire for her and his professional ethics, he must decide how far he is willing to go to ease her suffering.
Is Doctor Glas based on a true story?
Doctor Glas is not based on a true story. It is adapted from the celebrated 1905 Swedish novel of the same name by Hjalmar Söderberg, a landmark of Scandinavian literature that explores moral ambiguity, desire, and the limits of a doctor's duty.
Who directed Doctor Glas (1968)?
Doctor Glas was directed by Mai Zetterling, the acclaimed Swedish actress turned filmmaker. Known for her bold, psychologically intense style, Zetterling brought a distinctly feminist and morally probing sensibility to this adaptation of Hjalmar Söderberg's classic novel.
Who are the main actors in Doctor Glas?
The film stars Per Oscarsson as the conflicted Dr. Glas and Lone Hertz as Helga Gregorius, the woman at the heart of the story. Ulf Palme plays her oppressive husband, Reverend Gregorius, with Lars Lunøe appearing as Helga's lover, Klas Recke.
Does Doctor Glas explore themes of morality and desire?
Absolutely. The film's central tension is the doctor's inner conflict between his attraction to a married patient and his professional and moral obligations. It raises unsettling questions about the nature of mercy, personal freedom, and whether a man of medicine can justify crossing ethical boundaries for love.
When was Doctor Glas released?
Doctor Glas was released on June 12, 1968, in Denmark. It is a Danish-Swedish co-production filmed in Danish and Swedish, and stands as one of Mai Zetterling's most psychologically rich directorial works from her prolific 1960s period.
What are films similar to Doctor Glas?
If Doctor Glas resonates with you, you might enjoy The Virgin Suicides (2000), Take My Eyes (2003), Nowhere in Africa (2001), or About Dry Grasses (2023). These films share a similar focus on psychological depth, moral complexity, and intimate human drama.
How long is the film Doctor Glas?
Doctor Glas runs for 83 minutes, making it a compact yet emotionally dense viewing experience. Its relatively short runtime keeps the psychological tension tightly focused, allowing the film's moral dilemmas and character study to unfold with quiet, deliberate intensity.
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