The Seventh Seal (aka Det sjunde inseglet)
If you know of one Bergman film – this one should be it. This is his most popular and most iconic work. The image of Death and a knight playing chess on a beach is one of the most well know images in the history of world cinema. But is the movie worth of all the hype? Well, without wanting to spoil the rest of the review my answer to this question should be pretty obvious early on.
The movie opens with the knight Antonius Block (the legendary Max Von Sydow) and his cynical squire, Jöns (Gunnar Björnstrand) returned to their home country after fighting in the Crusades. Death (Bengt Ekerot) appears before Block with the intention of claiming him, but Block challenges Death to a game of chess – if Block wins Death will let him live, if he loses then Death will claim him and those he travels with. As Death is presumably a very busy chap, he can only play chess intermittently with Block, given Block the opportunity to travel across the plague-ridden country to return to his home and his wife. His story becomes linked with that of a bunch of travelling Players, including Jof and Mia (Nils Poppe and Bibi Andersson) who are trying to make a better life for their infant son. Another trouble for Block is that years of Crusading have destroyed his faith in God and religion, his journey is both a literal one to return to home and a metaphysical one as he searches for meaning and trying to put off Death as long as he can.
My synopsis probably won’t have done the film justice, it’s a film that’s very hard to sell to people because it seems so bleak and downbeat, when it facts it’s not just a momentous slog – the movie is full of light and dark, it is by turns horrifying and hilarious. There are dark scenes of despair and lighter sense full of laughter. The character of Death is pitch perfect – he is played as wryly sarcastic, in complete contrast to the sombre expectations.
I first watched this film when I was about 15 or 16. I was, and always have been, fascinated with cinema classics. I feel the need to watch them for myself to make up my own mind, be it good or bad. The Seventh Seal is a hard film to ignore; its impact is still resonating today. I loved it from first viewing. It completely knocked me sideways. Like so many others I had expected some dark and bleak medieval road movie, and was surprised to discover it was so much more fully rounded and multi-faceted than that. The acting is superb, as mentioned before the characterisation of Death is a stroke of genius; Max Von Sydow carries the weight of the movie’s themes and makes an engaging lead character (I call him lead but really the film is an ensemble with the character of Block at the character of it) and Nils Poppe is fantastic as the disarmingly naïve Jof. The movie is well shot throughout, full of images of light and dark. There many memorable moments, from the burning of a young girl believed to be a witch, to an actor pleading with Death for a little more time, to the famous final scene of the dance of Death.
The Seventh Seal is one of the most intelligent, beautiful, memorable, engaging, well-rounded films I’ve ever seen. I love it. Even since I first saw it, it’s been a permanent fixture in any ‘top 10 films’ list I’ve drawn up.
If you only see one Ingmar Bergman film in your life – make it this one.
Rating- 10/10
1) The Seventh Seal
2) Smiles of A Summer Night
3) Waiting Women
4) Prison
5) Summer With Monika
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Thursday 27 May 2010
Smiles of A Summer Night (1955)
Smiles Of A Summer Night (aka Sommarnattens Leende)
For me, this is the first truly great film that Bergman made. Looking back, his previous films feel like draft versions of this film, this is none more noticeable than in the film Waiting Women; in that film Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck play an arguing married couple who get trapped in an elevator. That section of the film was clearly the highlight and Smiles of a Summer Night riffs on the same themes – the politics of relationships and love as well as infidelity.
Fredrick Egerman (Gunnar Björnstrand) is lawyer married to the beautiful and young Anne (Ulla Jacobsson). He has a proto-emo son, Henrik (Björn Bjelfvenstam), who is in training to become a priest. Fredrick’s former mistress, the actress Desiree Armfeldt ( Eva Dahlbeck) returns to town with a plan in mind to do a ‘good deed’ for the Egerman’s, as well as her current paramore Count Malcolm (Jarl Kulle) and his jealous wife (Margit Carlqvist). Events come to head at a part on a (guess what?) summer night.
A friend of mine said they found the film ‘settling and unsettling’, and I can understand where they’re coming for – it’s a funny film but full of melancholy. It is funny, I always laugh during it (though, I must confess, I’ve seen this film 3 or 4 times, but only once when sober, sorry, Ingmar) but heartbreaking in a warm way. At the end of the film (slight spoilers) couples do end up together, but one couple doesn’t quite get the romantic Hollywood ending, there is a darker edge to their relationship. I generally hate romantic comedies, but I love this because of the darkness and melancholy. This film contains more adultery than any other film Hollywood out in that year and maybe even the decade.
Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck are a joy to watch together. Their scenes always sparkle – there is real chemistry between them. A big mention must go to Harriet Andersson as the feisty maid, she lightenes up every scene she’s in.
Well, I think it’s great. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but, damnit, this blog is about my opinion of Bergman, not yours.
Rating- 9/10
Top 5-
1) Smiles of Summer Night
2) Waiting Women
3) Prison
4) Summer With Monika
5) A Lesson In Love
For me, this is the first truly great film that Bergman made. Looking back, his previous films feel like draft versions of this film, this is none more noticeable than in the film Waiting Women; in that film Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck play an arguing married couple who get trapped in an elevator. That section of the film was clearly the highlight and Smiles of a Summer Night riffs on the same themes – the politics of relationships and love as well as infidelity.
Fredrick Egerman (Gunnar Björnstrand) is lawyer married to the beautiful and young Anne (Ulla Jacobsson). He has a proto-emo son, Henrik (Björn Bjelfvenstam), who is in training to become a priest. Fredrick’s former mistress, the actress Desiree Armfeldt ( Eva Dahlbeck) returns to town with a plan in mind to do a ‘good deed’ for the Egerman’s, as well as her current paramore Count Malcolm (Jarl Kulle) and his jealous wife (Margit Carlqvist). Events come to head at a part on a (guess what?) summer night.
A friend of mine said they found the film ‘settling and unsettling’, and I can understand where they’re coming for – it’s a funny film but full of melancholy. It is funny, I always laugh during it (though, I must confess, I’ve seen this film 3 or 4 times, but only once when sober, sorry, Ingmar) but heartbreaking in a warm way. At the end of the film (slight spoilers) couples do end up together, but one couple doesn’t quite get the romantic Hollywood ending, there is a darker edge to their relationship. I generally hate romantic comedies, but I love this because of the darkness and melancholy. This film contains more adultery than any other film Hollywood out in that year and maybe even the decade.
Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck are a joy to watch together. Their scenes always sparkle – there is real chemistry between them. A big mention must go to Harriet Andersson as the feisty maid, she lightenes up every scene she’s in.
Well, I think it’s great. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but, damnit, this blog is about my opinion of Bergman, not yours.
Rating- 9/10
Top 5-
1) Smiles of Summer Night
2) Waiting Women
3) Prison
4) Summer With Monika
5) A Lesson In Love
All Apologies, Ingmar
It seems strange that it was a year ago I decided to start this blog. I was just a crazy kid with a passion for Bergman movies. Now I'm a... well, older crazy kid with a passion with a passion for Bergman movies. Since the last blog entry (11 months ago) I haven't stopped watching Begrman films, I've just stopped reviewing them. I guess I lost inclination. I can't really explain, it was just one of those things that falls upon the wayside as so often things do in life.
To make this simpler – I’ve decided to start this up again because I have time on my hands and a renewed interest in Bergman films. The other day I watched Smiles of A Summer Night, which just so happens to be the next film in my collection that I need to review. What luck, eh? So I shall make an effort to continue with my reviewing of Bergman’s films, you lucky people.
All apologies, Ingmar. It was nothing personal.
P.S. While trying to publish this entry I have discovered I'd forgotten all I'd learnt about blog formatting, so this make take a while to get right.
To make this simpler – I’ve decided to start this up again because I have time on my hands and a renewed interest in Bergman films. The other day I watched Smiles of A Summer Night, which just so happens to be the next film in my collection that I need to review. What luck, eh? So I shall make an effort to continue with my reviewing of Bergman’s films, you lucky people.
All apologies, Ingmar. It was nothing personal.
P.S. While trying to publish this entry I have discovered I'd forgotten all I'd learnt about blog formatting, so this make take a while to get right.
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Dreams (1955)
Dreams (aka Journey Into Autumn aka Kvinnodröm)
This was a very strangely middle of the road film. I've seen far, far worse before, but it wasn't a great film either. If anything it was just a pleasent way of spending 84 minutes. It was a very mild film. There were two plots concerning Eva Dahlbeck's fashion photographer and her model Harriet Andersson, and both their stories are essentially variations of the same theme.
The two leading actresses are joined by Gunnar Björnstrand, making this another film with Bergman's current favourite trio of actors. That said, I really liked Björnstrand in this movie, but I'm not quite sure why. I think it may be the absolute look of fear on his face while on a rollercoaster.
The only other thing in the movie that stood out for me was how much Eva Dahlbeck's character reminded me of an ex-girlfriend. So I found Dahlbeck's character quite creepy.
A pleasent film.
Rating- 6/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) A Lesson In Love
5) Dreams
This was a very strangely middle of the road film. I've seen far, far worse before, but it wasn't a great film either. If anything it was just a pleasent way of spending 84 minutes. It was a very mild film. There were two plots concerning Eva Dahlbeck's fashion photographer and her model Harriet Andersson, and both their stories are essentially variations of the same theme.
The two leading actresses are joined by Gunnar Björnstrand, making this another film with Bergman's current favourite trio of actors. That said, I really liked Björnstrand in this movie, but I'm not quite sure why. I think it may be the absolute look of fear on his face while on a rollercoaster.
The only other thing in the movie that stood out for me was how much Eva Dahlbeck's character reminded me of an ex-girlfriend. So I found Dahlbeck's character quite creepy.
A pleasent film.
Rating- 6/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) A Lesson In Love
5) Dreams
Monday 22 June 2009
A Lesson In Love (1954)
A Lesson In Love (aka En lektion i kärlek)
This is one of Bergman's comedic films. Bergman is never exactly a master of comedy, sure there are funny moments in his films, but would I say he makes funny films? No, I wouldn't. While I liked this film and chuckled a couple of times, it certainly wasn't a laugh-out-loud funny movie.
Bergman teams up Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck as another bickering married couple, and once again infidelity is the major problem. Doctor David (Björnstrand) has an affair with a younger woman to the upset of Marianne (Dahlbeck). On a train journey together David pleads with Marianne not to go through with their divorce, and their marriage is told in non linear flashbacks.
It's very hard to review this movie without the knowledge of the later films of Bergman that I have seen, because in some senses, this movie is like a test run of another that will arrive later. Having seen that later film I expected Björnstrand and Dahlbeck to be a joy to watch, but it was not as engaging as was that, or even Waiting Women. I think the problem lies with the source material- Bergman hasn't got the comedy/serious balance quite sorted yet.
There's one section of the film I really loved- the flashback to David's father's birthday. It was a lovely sequence of family life. It was very warm and charming. It reminded me of the family moments in Leo Tolstoy's book. I always find them quite charming.
Also for a 50's movie, it's surprisingly liberal! It's something an American mainstream film would never dream of daring to do! So hats off for that one, Ingmar.
Rating- 7/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) A Lesson In Love
5) To Joy
This is one of Bergman's comedic films. Bergman is never exactly a master of comedy, sure there are funny moments in his films, but would I say he makes funny films? No, I wouldn't. While I liked this film and chuckled a couple of times, it certainly wasn't a laugh-out-loud funny movie.
Bergman teams up Gunnar Björnstrand and Eva Dahlbeck as another bickering married couple, and once again infidelity is the major problem. Doctor David (Björnstrand) has an affair with a younger woman to the upset of Marianne (Dahlbeck). On a train journey together David pleads with Marianne not to go through with their divorce, and their marriage is told in non linear flashbacks.
It's very hard to review this movie without the knowledge of the later films of Bergman that I have seen, because in some senses, this movie is like a test run of another that will arrive later. Having seen that later film I expected Björnstrand and Dahlbeck to be a joy to watch, but it was not as engaging as was that, or even Waiting Women. I think the problem lies with the source material- Bergman hasn't got the comedy/serious balance quite sorted yet.
There's one section of the film I really loved- the flashback to David's father's birthday. It was a lovely sequence of family life. It was very warm and charming. It reminded me of the family moments in Leo Tolstoy's book. I always find them quite charming.
Also for a 50's movie, it's surprisingly liberal! It's something an American mainstream film would never dream of daring to do! So hats off for that one, Ingmar.
Rating- 7/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) A Lesson In Love
5) To Joy
Thursday 28 May 2009
Summer With Monika (1953)
Summer With Monika (aka Sommaren Med Monika)
It's been a while since my last review. I think it's because I ODed on Bergman films and needed a break. Well, the break has been taken and I'm back. Summer With Monika is one film I've seen before, and I think I may have enjoyed it a little more on second viewing. I think the first time I watched it I thought it may actually be a happy film (well, it did have 'Summer' in the title), but it isn't quite that.
Like characters from a Bruce Springsteen song, young couple Harry and Monika (Åke Fridell and the great Harriet Andersson) forsake their parents, their jobs and the city and escape into the country on a boat. The plot is spilt into thirds- before they go to the country, when they're in the country and life in the city again. The country section is the longest and probably the best. The directing is more more leisurely and relaxed than in the city. In the city scenes it's almost as if Bergman isn't quite as comfortably with the material.
The film is a clear realist piece, but Bergman breaks this in two shots towards the end of the movie and it makes quite the impact. Without wanting to give too much away (as this one shot is worth watching the film for) Monika turns and looks directly into the camera, and it holds her in close up for a good 20 seconds I should imagine. The context of it combination with the expression on Harriet Andersson's face make it so powerful. It's the best bit of the film.
A good film, good moments and Harriet Andersson is great.
Rating- 6/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) To Joy
5) Music In Darkness
It's been a while since my last review. I think it's because I ODed on Bergman films and needed a break. Well, the break has been taken and I'm back. Summer With Monika is one film I've seen before, and I think I may have enjoyed it a little more on second viewing. I think the first time I watched it I thought it may actually be a happy film (well, it did have 'Summer' in the title), but it isn't quite that.
Like characters from a Bruce Springsteen song, young couple Harry and Monika (Åke Fridell and the great Harriet Andersson) forsake their parents, their jobs and the city and escape into the country on a boat. The plot is spilt into thirds- before they go to the country, when they're in the country and life in the city again. The country section is the longest and probably the best. The directing is more more leisurely and relaxed than in the city. In the city scenes it's almost as if Bergman isn't quite as comfortably with the material.
The film is a clear realist piece, but Bergman breaks this in two shots towards the end of the movie and it makes quite the impact. Without wanting to give too much away (as this one shot is worth watching the film for) Monika turns and looks directly into the camera, and it holds her in close up for a good 20 seconds I should imagine. The context of it combination with the expression on Harriet Andersson's face make it so powerful. It's the best bit of the film.
A good film, good moments and Harriet Andersson is great.
Rating- 6/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) Summer With Monika
4) To Joy
5) Music In Darkness
Friday 17 April 2009
Waiting Women (1952)
Waiting Women (aka Secrets of Women aka Kvinnors Väntan)
At last a more mature and interesting film from Bergman. He hasn't quite shaken off the 'young couple in love' obsession, but he's found a way to do it more interestingly.
The framing of the story is a group of women waiting for their husbands to return home, and discuss relationships, especially the problem of infidelity. There are three main stories told, the first and the third about infidelity, but the second is the young couple in love section. The second section features regulars Birger Malmsten and Maj-Britt Nilsson as another young couple, but this section is told (mostly) without dialogue, so becomes gestures and shows which is more interesting. But the best episode in the film has to be the third one in which Eva Dahlbeck and Gunnar Björnstrand play a married couple who accidentally get stuck in a life for the night. It's expertly played and quite funny as well as saying something more serious about relationships in general.
I must admit I do like episodic structures in movies, but I find that by and large they aren't done too well. The main trouble is that not all of the episodes are of equal quality, and I think that is a problem this film has with the first episode. I also do have a liking for ensemble casts in films and this does have a good ensemble cast, and most of the players are given their moment in the spotlight, but in larger scenes they work well together.
A good film, and hopefully a good indication of things to come.
Rating- 7/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) To Joy
4) Music In Darkness
5) Torment
At last a more mature and interesting film from Bergman. He hasn't quite shaken off the 'young couple in love' obsession, but he's found a way to do it more interestingly.
The framing of the story is a group of women waiting for their husbands to return home, and discuss relationships, especially the problem of infidelity. There are three main stories told, the first and the third about infidelity, but the second is the young couple in love section. The second section features regulars Birger Malmsten and Maj-Britt Nilsson as another young couple, but this section is told (mostly) without dialogue, so becomes gestures and shows which is more interesting. But the best episode in the film has to be the third one in which Eva Dahlbeck and Gunnar Björnstrand play a married couple who accidentally get stuck in a life for the night. It's expertly played and quite funny as well as saying something more serious about relationships in general.
I must admit I do like episodic structures in movies, but I find that by and large they aren't done too well. The main trouble is that not all of the episodes are of equal quality, and I think that is a problem this film has with the first episode. I also do have a liking for ensemble casts in films and this does have a good ensemble cast, and most of the players are given their moment in the spotlight, but in larger scenes they work well together.
A good film, and hopefully a good indication of things to come.
Rating- 7/10
Top 5-
1) Waiting Women
2) Prison
3) To Joy
4) Music In Darkness
5) Torment
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