Great analysis, Michael! Embarrassed to admit I’ve yet to see this classic. 🙈 “If there’s anything I learn watching great film directors like Bergman, nothing is in the finished movie by accident.” - So true!
Virgin Spring. This Bergman film sticks with me more others. (Although A LOT of his movies have stuck with me!) I have the Criterion disc but I haven't watched it in at least a couple years. One thing that is somewhat unique is that it has a somewhat hopeful ending. (Not everything that Bergman did was dour!) The story is based on an old Swedish legend. It also has a difficult scene to watch. (You'll know which one.) I remember in an interview with Bergman in which he reveals that the actors had a tough time doing the scene. Just some random thoughts about, in my opinion, one of his better movies. And that's saying something.
It's one of his I think I missed, and now you mention it has a "hopeful" ending, I'll be putting it on my Criterion channel streaming this week. I'm finding I sometimes need to watch Bergman films a couple of times—a lot comes at you quickly! He leaves little mysteries in his films, and I'll be curious to focus on the "tree shaking" scene of Virgin Spring, which Hader comments about in the YouTube clip I put up. Thanks for chiming in, Chris!
Great analysis, Michael! Embarrassed to admit I’ve yet to see this classic. 🙈 “If there’s anything I learn watching great film directors like Bergman, nothing is in the finished movie by accident.” - So true!
Then get at it. Pay special attention to the end…it always dissipates like smoke in my memory. Stick around for The Virgin Spring next!
Mm, beautiful description of the ending! Even having not seen it yet, I know exactly what you mean - that vanishingly rare, ephemeral quality.
Virgin Spring. This Bergman film sticks with me more others. (Although A LOT of his movies have stuck with me!) I have the Criterion disc but I haven't watched it in at least a couple years. One thing that is somewhat unique is that it has a somewhat hopeful ending. (Not everything that Bergman did was dour!) The story is based on an old Swedish legend. It also has a difficult scene to watch. (You'll know which one.) I remember in an interview with Bergman in which he reveals that the actors had a tough time doing the scene. Just some random thoughts about, in my opinion, one of his better movies. And that's saying something.
It's one of his I think I missed, and now you mention it has a "hopeful" ending, I'll be putting it on my Criterion channel streaming this week. I'm finding I sometimes need to watch Bergman films a couple of times—a lot comes at you quickly! He leaves little mysteries in his films, and I'll be curious to focus on the "tree shaking" scene of Virgin Spring, which Hader comments about in the YouTube clip I put up. Thanks for chiming in, Chris!