Music In Darkness (1948)

Music In Darkness (aka Night Is My Future aka Musik I Möker)


In between this film and his debut Crisis Bergman made three films, and in Music In Darkness the difference is plain to see. The film is essentially a tired old fashion romance routine, a formula that was well worn even in the late 40's, but none the less I enjoyed the movie. I generally despise formulaic movies, but the reason this stands out is that it's directed with confidence and flair. Bergman's gone from strength to strength as a director, and this film seems to be the beginnings of some 'firsts' that will recur in Bergman's career.


The story is about a blind musician (Birger Malmsten) and the young maid who falls in love with him, Ingrid (adeptly played by Mai Zetterling, especially in the early scenes). It seems class difference and Bengt's disability keep them apart. No surprises how it's going to end, huh? There's quite a bit of melodrama in the film, for example Bengt is blinded in an accident at a firing range as he was trying to rescue a puppy. Yes, that's right- a cute, white, little puppy. Though I knock the melodrama, the scene that follows is a fantastic surreal, expressionist nightmare as Bengt goes blind and unconscious.


Bengt is the first Bergman tortured artist (at least in this collection anyway), a recurring stock character in his films. The films also is the fist time Gunnar Björnstrand appears (in this collection) in a speaking role, it was hard not to think of him without knowing that he will become a regular player in Bergman's troupe, so his small role as a glum musician has extra relevance with foreknowledge.


I enjoyed the film, pretty good in places but too much melodrama for me to swallow.


Rating- 6/10


Top 5-
1)Music In Darkness
2)Torment
3)Crisis
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