Autumn Sonata (1978)
(Höstsonaten)
Country: FR/GER/SV/GB
Technical: Eastmancolor/1.66:1 99m
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann
Synopsis:
The discontented wife of a clergyman takes in her invalid sister and invites her neglectful mother, a concert pianist, to stay. A reckoning is at hand.
Review:
Principally noteworthy owing to the stellar pairing of the two Bergmans (no relations), this is quintessentially the work of its writer-director, indeed self-parodically so. Thus we have the bedridden sister, the damaged goods martyr - a role which Bergman seemed to reserve specially for Ullmann - the guilt, the egotism, the self-loathing, the excoriating recriminations, infant bereavement, abortion, infidelity, child molestation, all are here in spades, with classical music once again providing the ironically beautiful backdrop to the dysfunctional relationships (cf. To Joy). Again the irritation of déjà vu is mingled with anticipation of Woody Allen's still more tiresome imitations of his master that began the same year with Interiors. A late great performance from Ingrid Bergman, though her smoking technique leaves a little to be desired!
(Höstsonaten)
Country: FR/GER/SV/GB
Technical: Eastmancolor/1.66:1 99m
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann
Synopsis:
The discontented wife of a clergyman takes in her invalid sister and invites her neglectful mother, a concert pianist, to stay. A reckoning is at hand.
Review:
Principally noteworthy owing to the stellar pairing of the two Bergmans (no relations), this is quintessentially the work of its writer-director, indeed self-parodically so. Thus we have the bedridden sister, the damaged goods martyr - a role which Bergman seemed to reserve specially for Ullmann - the guilt, the egotism, the self-loathing, the excoriating recriminations, infant bereavement, abortion, infidelity, child molestation, all are here in spades, with classical music once again providing the ironically beautiful backdrop to the dysfunctional relationships (cf. To Joy). Again the irritation of déjà vu is mingled with anticipation of Woody Allen's still more tiresome imitations of his master that began the same year with Interiors. A late great performance from Ingrid Bergman, though her smoking technique leaves a little to be desired!
(Höstsonaten)
Country: FR/GER/SV/GB
Technical: Eastmancolor/1.66:1 99m
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann
Synopsis:
The discontented wife of a clergyman takes in her invalid sister and invites her neglectful mother, a concert pianist, to stay. A reckoning is at hand.
Review:
Principally noteworthy owing to the stellar pairing of the two Bergmans (no relations), this is quintessentially the work of its writer-director, indeed self-parodically so. Thus we have the bedridden sister, the damaged goods martyr - a role which Bergman seemed to reserve specially for Ullmann - the guilt, the egotism, the self-loathing, the excoriating recriminations, infant bereavement, abortion, infidelity, child molestation, all are here in spades, with classical music once again providing the ironically beautiful backdrop to the dysfunctional relationships (cf. To Joy). Again the irritation of déjà vu is mingled with anticipation of Woody Allen's still more tiresome imitations of his master that began the same year with Interiors. A late great performance from Ingrid Bergman, though her smoking technique leaves a little to be desired!