Winter Light |
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[Nattvardsgästerna]
Director Starring |
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(Review fashioned of stuff I rambled on about in the DG substitute thread — I guess I covered most of what I thought there already, although as a result this reads as a defense of WL which many of you will not need.)
I give the film credit for subtlety, although what the dude wrote in the insert for either Through a Glass Darkly or Winter Light is probably true… something to the effect of if you completely accept what Bergman is doing in these films they will work for you; if one moment makes you laugh or make a snarky comment the mood will be permanently broken.
I was happy to lose myself in Bergman’s stark, searching world… although I answered these questions for myself a long time ago & never approached them from the same angle, there is still much genuine pain, earnest critique, and compassionate treatment of both atheists and believers in this.
The stark, simplified landscapes, sets, camera work &c are predetermined by the ‘chamber drama’ project. If you’re with Bergman so far then it follows that the ideas, dialogues, and characterizations will be correspondingly minimalist and bleak. I absolutely get it if the very idea of a film of this kind is unappealing, but if the construct itself is okay then the question becomes: was it fulfilled satisfyingly? For me, it was.
I think the way the characters talk and act seems of a whole with the film’s intent and style. They may seem simple and angsty but I think they represent different angles of the question Bergman wants to consider and nothing more — the film is by design economical.
That’s where I may prefer Through a Glass Darkly, though, which I find to be populated with richly drawn, compelling and understandable characters, until the last scene where I feel Bergman is just putting words into a character’s mouth for the sake of having them said. He seems to do this consistently in Winter Light so it doesn’t bother me. But TAGD has better characters as humans.
I suppose I’m inclined to like it anyway because it is something that interests me. Not questions of faith, exactly, which I laid to rest ages and ages ago, but… well good ol’ fashioned existential angst hasn’t entirely lost its appeal yet.
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