![]() ![]() If you are going to pick one late Bergman film to see, there is no contest – Fanny and Alexander is a masterpiece. I was originally very impressed when considering that this film was released in 1978, given that he was at his peak during the late 50s and early 60s, but then I remember Fanny and Alexander, one of his great works, came out in 1982. If you are familiar with Bergman, it is worth watching, but only after getting through his films from his classic period, such as The Seventh Seal, Winter Light, and Persona. The film rehashes themes he explores better in his other works. Having said that, if you have indeed never seen a Bergman film this isn’t necessarily the best place to start. I’ve found Bergman’s color films to be particularly powerful in certain aspects, and conveying pain is one of them. Ullmann in particular excels in this film – I found my stomach writhing with pity watching her sob angrily at her mother. Eva and Charlotte are aggressive and naked in their confrontation, and is frequently hard to watch. The film is classic Bergman, and if you’ve never seen a Bergman before you may be shocked by its raw emotion. (It is also extremely true, and is something we should all be aware of.) This is an idea that Bergman brought to all of his work and it is certainly true for this movie. Kierkegaard once said that, I’m paraphrasing, only after we have truly broken down all of our borders and revealed ourselves to those around us can we truly love. The film ends with a potential reconciliation on the horizon. After being confronted with the pain of her children, Charlotte has her own opening, and reveals to Eva her own fears and pains. After a tense day together, Eva and Charlotte are left alone, where Eva confronts Charlotte over her failure as a mother, and the damage and pain she has wrought upon her two daughters. After Helena’s condition became bad enough, she was placed in a hospital and effectively abandoned by their mother, and Eva took her in to watch over her. Helena suffers from an extremely disabling muscular disorder (I believe it is cerebral-palsy) and must be under constant supervision. Upon her arrival, Eva surprises her mother by telling her her other daughter, Helena, is there as well. The story is classic Bergman and addresses a theme he based his career off of – our inability to communicate with, and thus connect, with the people closest to us, and the ways we suffer because of it.Įva is visited by her mother Charlotte after an extended absence. Autumn Sonata stars one of his regulars, Liv Ullmann, as Eva, the daughter of a concert pianist, Charlotte, played by first-time collaborator Ingrid Bergman. The film is shot in beautiful color by Bergman’s cinematographer Sven Nykvist, using a palette of autumn colors – oranges, reds, yellows. Ingmar Bergman directed over 60 films during his career, with a group of regulars in most of his later movies. ![]() The mother’s failures are paid for by the daughter.” “The mother’s injuries are handed down to the daughter. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |