INGMAR BERGMAN

He was one of the few directors who truly deserves to be called a giant. Ingmar Bergman, the great Swedish master, died at the good old age of 89. He made over 50 films, ( 11 with actress Liv Ullman) most of them good. He was nominated for an Oscar six times, and, incredibly, never won. The Academy will probably give him one of those lifetime work deals now that he’s dead. Some of his films are difficult, but worth the effort. I’ll start with two that are more accessible.

Smiles Of A Summer Night (1955) is a delightfully light comedy about manners, mores and sex as a mixed group of people spend a weekend at a summer home. This film inspired the Broadway play A Little Night Music, as well as Woody Allen’s A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy. It doesn’t really show its age; it’s still a delight.

Fanny And Alexander (1983) is a magical family story mostly seen through the eyes of a young Bergman. It has joy and sorrow and most all of the things that most families share. The Academy gave this one Best Foreign Film, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Set Decoration, but not Best Director.

In Wild Strawberries (1957) an aging professor looks back on the shortcomings and pluses of his life en route to receive an honorary degree. Bergman’s use of flashbacks is still studied in film schools. This movie contains one of the most astonishing scenes of self-recognition ever put on the screen. No, I won’t tell you; see it yourself. 

Scenes From A Marriage (1973) lets you have your cake and eat it too. There is a 6-part mini-series made for Swedish TV and a 2 hour 49 minute movie taken from the same. Both can be seen on DVD. I don’t think the movie misses much, but the TV series has it all. Liv Ullman and Erland Josephson are the subject couple. This is probably the best film ever made about the painful erosion of a romantic union. 

The Virgin Spring (1960) seems to be the straightforward story of the rape and murder of a beautiful young farm girl and its effect on her family, but there’s a lot more going on here. A fable for any time; don’t be scared off by the subject matter. Beautifully made.

The Seventh Seal (1957) is frankly difficult. Max Von Sydow is a disillusioned knight on his way home from the crusades. But this one contains incredible set pieces, such as the knight’s chess game with Death. 

When you realize that many of Bergman’s films began as Swedish television dramas, you can only wish we had something similar.

All of the films in this column are available on DVD. All are strictly for grown-ups.