Am I the only Ingmar Bergman fan here?

[FredCamp]

. . . or am I just the only one who will admit to being an Ingmar Bergman fan? :) Ever since I heard Diane Keaton's line in MANHATTAN about Bergman belonging to the "Academy of the Over-rated", I've been a little guarded in my enthusiasm for his work. After all, bleak Swedish landscapes (most of the better ones in black & white) and existential musings aren't for everyone, I suppose.

But, I've been revisiting some Bergman films recently, having received the Criterion dvds of THE SEVENTH SEAL and WILD STRAWBERRIES for Christmas, and after purchasing the TRILOGY box set from Criterion back in August. WILD STRAWBERRIES is amazing, as is THE SEVENTH SEAL, but the trilogy was new to me. Like a lot of my big purchases, it sat on the shelf for a time before I finally delved into it. The first film, THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, absolutely floored me. It had been a while since a film had affected me in such a way -- to the point that I was afraid to watch the second film, WINTER LIGHT, for fear it would deflate the first film for me. Well, it didn't, but it was equally profound. I haven't watched THE SILENCE yet, but I will soon.

So, where are the other Bergman fans? Anyone else seen the trilogy? I am interested in your remarks and suggestions for future viewings.

[Jos]

Don't worry, you're not the only one......Although I don't have any DVD or so, I'll watch a Bergman movie whenever it's on TV or in one of the specilized clubs over here.....

Last one I saw was last Thursday: "Persona" with Bibi Anderson and Liv Ullman.....

Bergman is an artist, not just a movie director.....

[aceman400]

I bought the trilogy for my wife for Christmas. We also own Seventh Seal, Magic Flute, Cries and Whispers and Wild Strawberries and will probably own Scenes from a Marriage when it is released in March.

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=229

I like it but not as much as my wife..

Aaron

[Steve Hoffman]

WILD STRAWBERRIES is one of my favorite movies, if not my all-time favorite. Amazing what was done with a $50,000 budget and great talent.

[Jimbo]

Smiles of a Summer Night is a sheer delight! Don't overlook this one!

P.S. Anybody remember the SCTV skit with Martin Short as Jerry Lewis starring in Bergman's Scene's From an Idiot's Marriage? :laugh:

[Jefhart]

I love Bergman. I've got Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Cries & Whispers, Magic Flute, Fanny & Alexander. Haven't gotten the trilogy, but hope to soon. Also would love to see the Magician on DVD.

Jeff

[FredCamp]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
WILD STRAWBERRIES is one of my favorite movies, if not my all-time favorite. Amazing what was done with a $50,000 budget and great talent.

I agree completely. Sad to say, I had forgotten just how great it is, but I was glad to be reminded. The Criterion dvd also has a very revealing documentaryIngmar Bergman on Life and Work which give more insight into how much he puts his life into his art. I haven't listened to all the commentary yet.

[FredCamp]

Originally posted by Jefhart
Also would love to see the Magician on DVD.

Jeff

I have only seen THE MAGICIAN on a bad vhs dub. I would also like to see it on dvd, along with FANNY AND ALEXANDER.

[Mike B]

Fell in love with his work after having seen Wild Strawberries. I much prefer that sort of realistic, dry presentation to the Seventh Seal kind of symbolism.

Cries & Whispers is both powerful and subtle.

Those, and Magic Flute, are the only ones I've seen and have. Of course, I want more.

[SVL]

I don't think he's overrated... just very, very good:)

It's been a while since I read it, but I remember Bergman's autobiography, The Magic Lantern, as an interesting book, rather insightful and disturbing at times.

[b&w]

To answer your specific question ..no you arent. I am fan too...

[JohnG]

Wild Strawberries is on my Netflix list of must rents.

Glad to hear its a must see!!

[Mick Jones]

I've just had a look at my DVD collection, and I own 11 Ingmar Bergman films. More than for any other director, although of couse I would still want more. I haven't even picked up Persona yet, which was only recently released in the UK. One of my very favourite Bergman films, Shame, isn't so far out on DVD at all.

[RDK]

Reminds me of a funny Bergman story...

So one day I was handed a new screenplay by an up-and-coming young writer, and attached to it was a note from the writer's agent, proclaiming the screenplay as being very "Bergman-esque." Now having gone through film school, my first reaction upon hearing the name "Bergman" is to think of Ingmar Bergman (or at the very least Ingrid Bergman).

So anyone familiar with the films of Ingmar Bergman can imagine my surprise when the script turned out to be a rather broad comedy. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why the agent would refer to this script as being "Bergman-esque"...

Until I realized that he wasn't talking about Ingmar but rather Andrew Bergman (THE IN-LAWS, FLETCH, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, etc.)

:D

[dwmann]

Don't forget Autumn Sonata, also available on Criterion...

[Pinknik]

I rented a VHS copy of THE SEVENTH SEAL, expecting it to be artsy and symbolic, and happy to find it was also funny and entertaining as well. I now own the Criterion disc. Seems like I should check out more now, huh?

[dbryant]

...which reminds me of a story: Maybe 15 years ago, I was in a video rental store on Newbury Street in Boston. Browsing the shelves, I picked up a copy of Cries and Whispers and thought, "I've always wanted to see that...not tonight, though." I put the tape back on the shelf, turned to my left, and there, maybe 20 feet down the aisle, browsing with a friend, was LIV ULLMAN. (She was living in Massachusetts at the time, but in any event, don't ask me how I knew it was her — she was dressed down, but *luminous*.) They didn't notice me, and I gulped hard and walked away — what were the chances of that? All I could think of was, "I'm glad I didn't pick up Godzilla!" :D

Anyway, yes to Wild Strawberries, Fanny and Alexander, Persona, The Seventh Seal, and if someone wanted to make the case that Fanny and Alexander was the best film to be made since its release, I wouldn't argue. Having said that, he might not make my top ten fave directors, but overrated? No way...

[Gary]

Originally posted by Jimbo
P.S. Anybody remember the SCTV skit with Martin Short as Jerry Lewis starring in Bergman's [I]Scene's From an Idiot's Marriage? :laugh:

Nope.... but I did see a film short where it was very "koff" "Bergman-esque" so to speak. It was very serious until the bird do-do hit - then everyone cracked up! :D

I wonder what that was.... it was such a loooong time ago! I was young, I think.... :ed:

[FredCamp]

Originally posted by Mick Jones
I've just had a look at my DVD collection, and I own 11 Ingmar Bergman films. More than for any other director, although of couse I would still want more. I haven't even picked up Persona yet, which was only recently released in the UK. One of my very favourite Bergman films, Shame, isn't so far out on DVD at all.


Between my dvd and laserdisc collections, I'm not too far behind you with nine Bergman titles. From what I can tell, PERSONA and SHAME, along with others, will be released here in R1 before too long. Not all will be Criterion releases, though. Hope the studios can measure up (but I doubt it).

THE SEVENTH SEAL was my introduction to Bergman. As usual, I was working in reverse, prompted to Bergman after seeing Woody Allen's "serious, Bergman-esque" films (I also discovered Woody Guthrie after listening to Bob Dylan). I would have to list SEVENTH SEAL as one of my favorite Bergman films, mainly for its overt symbolism. I've been teaching an advanced level English course to 12th graders for nearly 13 years now, and I used to include the film as part of the syllabus -- seemed logical after studying two Camus novels. So, Bergman's symbolism proved very useful as well as interesting to me.

But, WILD STRAWBERRIES is starting to overtake SEVENTH SEAL in my estimation.

I watched THE SILENCE last night. It's a bit different from the other two films in the trilogy. I was a little surprised to see such fluid camera movement, as everything is fairly static in the other two films. Definitely the most surreal Bergman film I've seen. I had to chuckle at one of the last scenes where the dwarves walk down the hallway and one is dressed as Death. Wonder if Bergman was making a humorous allusion to SEVENTH SEAL. Overall, the trilogy is amazing.

[Ed Bishop]

P E R S O N A

After that one, you never think of cinema in quite the same way again....and that's a good thing if you're fortunate enough to have the experience....


ED:edthumbs:

[Gardo]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
P E R S O N A

After that one, you never think of cinema in quite the same way again....and that's a good thing if you're fortunate enough to have the experience....


ED:edthumbs:

Cinema, or love, or identity, or vocation, or childhood....

Amazing movie. It's all there!

Do you still feel lonely, FredCamp?;)

[FredCamp]

Originally posted by Gardo
Cinema, or love, or identity, or vocation, or childhood....

Amazing movie. It's all there!

Do you still feel lonely, FredCamp?;)


Not at all.:)

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by FredCamp



Not at all.:)


With or without God, you are never alone....aka many Bergman films!:eek:


THE VIRGIN SPRING is an interesting one...



ED:ed:

[FredCamp]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop



With or without God, you are never alone....aka many Bergman films!:eek:


THE VIRGIN SPRING is an interesting one...



ED:ed:


Never alone with all the Bergman films, Woody Allen films, etc., the countless books and compact discs and record albums. How do people not like us survive? :) :p :laugh:

I've got VIRGIN SPRING and PERSONA on laserdisc. I haven't watched either in quite a while, but I will be revisiting them soon. What a difference a few Christmas gifts can make. Thanks Gardo & clan.:edthumbs:

[Ken_McAlinden]

Am I the only Ingmar Bergman fan here? Yeah, it's probably just you. ;)

Regards,