It was a Swedish film they said,
Mixing real life, truth and art,
A little bit expressive they said,
Which for us was a jolly good start
And when Sunday the good Father
Preached to go and see it was a sin
The street outside was crowded
As we quietly queued to get in.
This was the early 1960's
When standards had to be preserved
What was outrageous then would
Now be considered quite reserved.
There was Sex and there was Symbolism
There was Fear, Anxiety, Angst and Doubt.
I watched the whole film enthralled
No idea what it was all about
At later showings we found
Due to the films”s notoriety
And to enable a continuing
Sense of community propriety
At a given signal they had to hold
Sheets of paper before their eyes
To avoid seiing certain scenes
And keep Innocence uncompromised
But, it was Art and it was Sex,
Displayed on the silver screen
And despite the Father's warnings
Me and most of the village had been.
It was never mentioned in the bar
Later on when we went for a drink,
Just the odd embarrassed grin
And the occasional knowing wink.
