Ingmar Bergman

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingmar_Bergman

Vargtimmen (1968)

 

Fanny och Alexander (1982)

 

Two young Swedish children in the 1900s experience the many comedies and tragedies of their lively and affectionate theatrical family, the Ekdahls.

From memory: Lovingly detailed and obviously autobiographical period piece is something of a summary of Bergman's previous work, made by a matured director in full confidence of his talents; immensely enjoyable and entertaining.

Halliwell****: "An interesting mixture of Dear Octopus and Wild Strawberries turns into something more akin to The Face and The Night Comers. A kind of Bergman compendium, and impossible to describe exactly for those who have not seen it."

Maltin****: "Haunting, engrossing autobiographical family saga...a summing up of Bergman's career...Scenes of joy, exuberance, pain, torment, exquisitely expressed..."

 

Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

 

Sommarnattens leende (1955)

 

In Sweden at the turn of the century, members of the upper class and their servants find themselves in a romantic tangle that they try to work out amidst jealousy and heartbreak.

Lively, witty and civilized comedy of manners is perfectly staged and cast in the sure hands of director Ingmar Bergman; sophisticated entertainment, but maybe a bit dated for a contemporary audience.

Halliwell***: "Comedy of high period manners with an admirable detached viewpoint and elegant trappings." 

Maltin***: "One of the finest romantic comedies ever made, a witty treatise on manners, mores, and sex..."

 

Persona (1966)

En passion (1969)

 

 

A recently divorced man meets an emotionally devastated widow and they begin a love affair.

 

A typically bleak Bergman drama explores once again the impossibility of true relationships and offers superb performances and excellent cinematography, but this time around the story seems construed and is quite heavy-going in execution.

Maltin***1/2: "Stark drama, beautifully acted...Superior cinematography by Sven Nykvist." 

 

 

Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

Aus dem Leben der Marionetten (1980)

An account of the events before and after a murder committed by Peter Egermann, a disturbed businessman in a strained marriage, and what led Peter to perform such a shocking act.

From memory: intense and puzzling chamber play switching between black-and-white and color and with extensive dream sequences.

Halliwell*: "A film somehow typical of its director, but far from his most interesting work."

Maltin***1/2: "Powerful, provocative drama..."

Persona (1966)

Scener ur ett äktenskap (1973)

Skammen (1968)

In the midst of a civil war, former violinists, who have a tempestuous marriage, run a farm on a rural island, and in spite of their best efforts to escape their homeland, the war impinges on every aspect of their lives.

Highly intense study of what war does to human beings; the setting is incredibly bleak and apocalyptic, and the director doesn't spare the audience from some harrowing moments; the performances are excellent, of course.

Maltin****: "Powerful, brilliantly acted drama...One of Bergman's best."

Persona (1966)

A nurse is put in charge of a mute actress and finds that their personas are melding together.

A seemingly reduced two-person drama electrifies as an intense study with an innovative cinematic style; a true masterpiece that obviously has heavily influenced the art of cinema ever since.

Halliwell***: "Intense clinical study presented in a very complex cinematic manner which tends to obscure the main theme while providing endless fascination for cineastes."

Maltin***1/2: "Haunting, poetic, for discerning viewers..."

New acquisition: Skammen (1968)

Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

Persona (1966)

On the set: Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann

Federico Fellini & Ingmar Bergman