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The Seventh Seal (1957)
The odd seeming title (there certainly are no oily seals to be found anywhere) actually refers to a passage from the Book of Revelations, used in the film; "And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Revelation 8:1). Set in Sweden during the Crusades, we follow the journey of a medieval knight Antonius Block (Max Von Sydow) through the plague-ridden countryside, where he eventually comes across Death who as it turns out has come to take his life. The scene in which Block plays chess with Death for his soul has been the inspiration for many a comedy skits and a rather funny scene in 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'. This is another serious film though dealing with death, the meaning of life and the existence of God. It features some breathtaking cinematography and a superb performance from Von Sydow as the unfortunate knight. |
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Wild Strawberries (1957)
If I were to recommend a stranger to watch their first Bergman film, I would choose this one for them. It's one of his most optimistic films, it features great performances and is a good introduction to some of Bergman's recurring pre-occupations and themes, without the angst and despair. An old college professor reminisces about his past whilst on a trip to his old university to collect an award. The original Swedish title is 'Smultronstället', which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but colloquially is taken to mean a place one has a strong sentimental attachment to. The great Swedish director and actor Victor Sjöström stars as the professor, seen here in his final screen performance. The film also features Bergman regulars Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. |
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Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
This is the first in the 'Faith Trilogy'. Another strange title - and another which comes from a biblical passage (Corinthians 1:13). Seeing through a glass darkly refers to the unclear view of God we have when we're alive; the real view only being clear when we die. The original Swedish title literally means 'As In A Mirror', which is how the passage reads in a 1917 Swedish translation of the Bible. Set on a small island, with a full cast compliment of four (including the ever reliable Gunnar Björnstrand as David and Max Von Sydow as Martin), this is a study of a young woman's slow descent into madness, and the inability for those closest to her to connect with her emotionally. Harriet Andersson stars as Karin - wife of Martin and daughter of David. She starts to see God as a spider and the two men in her life seem unable to help her. This is a pretty torrid look at an emotionally stunted family dynamic, and a terrifying glimpse into the mind of a woman perilously close to insanity. |
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Winter Light (1962)
The second in Bergman's 'Faith Trilogy' - the first being 'Through a Glass Darkly' and the third 'The Silence'. The original Swedish title translates as "The Communicants". Bergman regular Gunnar Björnstrand stars as Tomas Ericsson, the pastor of a small church in the Swedish countryside. He finds himself having a crisis of faith one Sunday whilst preaching to his tiny congregation, and begins to question the existence of God. Having no-one else to turn to he finds himself talking to his parishioners about his existential worries rather than helping them with their problems. Tomas is further tormented by the amourous advances of one of the villagers - the local school teacher, who senses a catch in Tomas if he's no longer wedded to God. This film typifies what Bergman was all about - tackling the big questions whilst showing normal people with their frailties and insecurities. Bergman himself claimed this was his favourite of the films he made. Simple, and devastating. |
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Persona (1966)
Liv Ullman plays Elisabet, a successful actress who is struck dumb one evening during a performance of Electra, and is admitted to hospital where she is put under the care of young nurse Alma during her recovery. On the advice of the head doctor at the hospital Alma accompanies Elisabet to the doctor’s summer house by the sea for further convalescence. The two pass the following few days with Alma talking for hours on end about her life and travails whilst Elisabet remains mute, observing the young nurse. Tiring of what she comes to believe is Elisabet's psychological game-playing and general non-responsiveness Alma herself eventually suffers a mental breakdown of sorts. Dark and utterly absorbing study of human psychology, this is one of Bergman's very best. The two leads are perfectly cast and both give intense performances. |
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Cries & Whispers (1972)
Bleak film starring Harriet Andersson as Agnes - a young woman dying of womb cancer. While she is in the final stages of the disease, and being cared for by her loyal maid her two sisters (Ingrid Thulin and Liv Ullman) arrive to take care of her in her final days. Most of the film is concerned with the psychological toll Agnes' situation exacts on each of the sisters. As usual the performances are impeccable and unlike most of Bergman's films, Cries and Whispers is in colour. In fact there is a preponderance of crimson - the colour of blood. Bergman has stated his use of this colour is to signify the soul - which he imagines is this colour in us all. Cinematographer Sven Nykvist won the Academy Award for for his sterling work on this film - an emotional journey to be sure. |
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Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
The story chronicles the highs and lows of a married couple - Marianne and Johan (Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson respectively) over a number of years. Scenes from a Marriage was first released as a TV mini-series comprising 6 episodes with a running time of close to 300 minutes. This was cut down to 168 minutes for the theatrical release which loses some of its power because of it. To gain a proper perspective on the marriage of these two people really requires the longer running time to fully immerse oneself in the turmoil of the couple's situation, and the 295 minute version accomplishes that, in spades. Anyone who's been maried for a number of years is sure to find much in this film and the couple with which to identify and empathise. Bergman is a master at showing the ways people can inflict pschological damage on each other and at the same time illustrate the ties that bind us one to another. |
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Fanny & Alexander (1982)
Young Alexander and his sister Fanny live wih their upper class family in Uppsala just after the turn of the century. The childrens' parents are happily married and work in the theatre. When the father dies suddenly, their mother, Emilie, begins a relationship with the local bishop and the two are soon married and take up residence in the bishop's house, putting the children under his strict rule. He is particularly hard on Alexander, trying to break his will at every opportunity. The children and their mother live as virtual prisoners in the bishop's house until finally the rest of their family intervene. With the help of the family and an old friend the children are smuggled out of the house, but the family,s attempts to extricate Emilie from the bishop's clutches ultimately fail. This a lush production, full of detail and incident. Wonderful acting and a gripping story. A Magnum Opus of sorts. |
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