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There was a point early into this film about a self absorbed pastor, struggling with his faith while being - at least outwardly - indifferent to (and sometimes even feeding) the suffering of those around him, that I thought it was going to be the first Bergman film I didn't like.
But just as I felt myself slipping away I made the decision to stay with it and was rewarded with yet another Bergman masterpiece.
Part of the problem I had early on was that I just didn't care about the pastor. Nothing about him elicited any sympathy in me and, frankly, I was bored. But then I realized I cared about everyone else in the film and as it progressed I came to greatly appreciate the performance of Gunnar Björnstrand (who, IMO, despite the great performance of Max von Sydow, pretty much stole the show in the Seventh Seal) as the pastor.
The movie starts and ends on a similar note... a dry, lifeless church service; and in the three hours in between services (that's three hours in story time, the film is 80 minutes long) we basically discover the why's and wherfore's of that dryness and lifelessness.
It's no great revelation to say that this film is more of a chamber piece and that, as such, it requires a bit more from the viewer... it's a film about the inner live's of people and to access it fully you must get to the inner life of the film. Once there the rewards are tremendous.
Like every Bergamn film I've seen it deserves a second viewing before sending it back and like the others, I look forwrard to that, and to discovering even more of its treasures.
Two other performances worth mentioning are Kolbjörn Knudsen as the caretaker of the church. His monologue on suffering was the highlight for me and he suffused his character with a kind of honesty and luminosity that really made me believe in his faith.
And, of course Ingrid Thulin as the woman in love with the pastor. What an honest, raw and vulnerable performance. She really carried the film for me.Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
Follow Ups:
...that we talk about Bergman almost as if he's a past master...when in fact he's very much alive. Surely he's not been cinematically prolific in recent years but as far as I know he's continued his stage work.
If only there was enough of his stage work seen here to expand the discussion a little bit in that direction, too. He appears to be considered one of the giants of Swedish theatrical arts as well as a great filmmaker.
Scandinavian genius, though far less prolific.
Ordet, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Vamypr (a brilliant "horror" film and one demonstrating the incredible range of Dreyer), Gertrud... these are his films I've seen and each is a classic.
If you're of a mind, start with the stark brilliance of "Ordet."
He's every bit the master Bergman is.
but Netflix doesn't have it. My local video store does however, so I'll check it out.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
medium and is almost a sacred work.
zx
if it had beeen my first Bergman film I might not have made it through.
I've never read any of Waugh's books. Might order "Decline And Fall." I need a good book.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
Trying to figure out the 'Waugh' - 'Winter Light' connection here. Is there something other than a subject matter connection here?
Sorry to be so daft.
I was just going with the flow.
Maybe I'll find out when I read some of his stuff.
Seriously though, I think Clark was making a connection between a difficult to like character in "Winter Light" and an author who makes reading about difficult to like charcters palatable.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
Black Mischief and Scoop, and I wrote 'em up briefly once. The latter is a work as relevant today as it ever was.
- http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=outside&n=216058&highlight=clarkjohnsen+evelyn+waugh&r=&session= (Open in New Window)
s
Yes yes and yes.
Classical, best of.
Go and see this one if you are in the mood for more...
I'll get there... am going through the "Faith Trilogy" now and trying to see Bergman's films in the order they were made... at least by period.
I cheated a little here and saw "Winter Light" before "Through A Glass Darkly" but that's next.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
"Through a Glass Darkly" is my favorite of the faith trilogy. Enjoy!
Rod
The Serpent´s Egg is the only film that I dislike, but that to 100%.
He made it in Germany having some tax problem in Sweden, if I remember rightly.
I wonder what will be your reaction..
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