Simon & the Oaks (2011)

Forget about Norwegian wood, you’ll be hard as an oak when you see the Scandinavian pic Simon & the Oaks (2011), also known as Simon och ekarna (2011). Based on Marianne Fredriksson’s novel “Simon and the Oaks” (1985), the cinematic adaptation scored 13 Guldbagge Award nominations, including Best Film and Best Director (Lisa Ohlin) with wins for Best Supporting Actor (Jan Josef Liefers) and Best Supporting Actress (Cecilia Nilsso). Set on the outskirts of Gothenburg during World War II, the historic drama follows the Larsson (Helen Sjöholm, Jonatan S. Wächter, Stefan Gödicke) and the Lentov (Karl Linnertorp, Karl Martin Eriksson) families. In addition to friendship, they share tragic dark secrets and a common destiny. When one of the sons, Simon (Bill Skarsgård), discovers that he was adopted and that his birth father is a German Jew, he decides to travel to Germany to learn more about his ancestry. While Simon digs up his past, he gives us a present in the form of skin. In other words, the handsome actor generously treats us to a view of his bare back and nude booty while banging a sadomasochistic woman in bed. If that’s not kinky enough, Mr. Skarsgård also lets his peen be seen on screen when it pops out of his briefs. Let’s it hear it for wardrobe malfunctions! Speaking of, Katja Watkins was nominated for a Golden Scarab Award for her costume designs. But Mr. Man prefers a period piece with no costumes. How else can you see the performers’ pieces?