#0000A/#211: BERGMAN, Ingmar: The Silence (1963)

A FILM TRILOGY BY INGMAR BERGMAN {Spine #208}

BERGMAN, Ingmar (Sweden)

The Silence [1963]

Spine #0000A/Spine #211

Blu-ray/DVD

2003 synopsis

Traveling home by train through a country seemingly on the brink of war, two sisters — the sickly, intellectual Ester and the sensual, pragmatic Anna — along with Anna's young son, Johan, are forced to disembark in an unknown city in order for Ester to rest. Attempting to cope with their alien surroundings, the sisters resort to their personal vices while vying for Johan's affection, and in so doing sabotage what little remains of their ambiguous relationship. Regarded as one of the most sexually provocative films of its day, with captivating performances by Ingrid Thulin, Gunnel Lindblom, and Jörgen Lindström, Ingmar Bergman's The Silence offers a brilliant, disturbing vision of emotional isolation in a suffocating spiritual void.

2018 synopsis

Two sisters — the sickly, intellectual Ester (Ingrid Thulin) and the sensual, pragmatic Anna (Gunnel Lindblom) — travel by train with Anna's young son, Johan (Jörgen Lindström), to a foreign country that appears to be on the brink of war. Attempting to cope with their alien surroundings, each sister is left to her own vices while they vie for Johan's affection, and in so doing sabotage what little remains of their relationship. Regarded as one of the most sexually provocative films of its day, Bergman's The Silence offers a disturbing vision of emotional isolation in a suffocating spiritual void.

95 minutes
Black & White

Monaural

in Swedish

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2003/2018

Director/Writer

Ingmar Bergman was 45 when he wrote and directed The Silence.

Other Bergman films in the Collection:

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Crisis (1946)

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: A Ship To India (1947)

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Port Of Call (1948)

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: Thirst (1949)

#0000A/Eclipse Series 1: To Joy (1950)

#0000A/#613: Summer Interlude (1951)

#0000A: Waiting Women (1952)

#0000A/#412: Sawdust And Tinsel (1953)

#0000A/#614: Summer With Monika (1953)

#0000A: A Lesson In Love (1954)

#0000A: Dreams (1955)

#0000A/#237: Smiles Of A Summer Night (1955)

#0000A/#11: The Seventh Seal (1957)
#0000A/#139: Wild Strawberries (1957)
#0000A/#537: The Magician (1958)
#0000A: Brink Of Life (1958)

#0000A/#321: The Virgin Spring (1960)

#0000A: The Devil's Eye (1960)

#0000A/#209: Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
#0000A/#210: Winter Light (1962)

#0000A: All These Women (1964)

#0000A/#701: Persona (1966)

#0000A: Hour Of The Wolf (1968)

#0000A/#961: Shame (1968)

#0000A: The Passion Of Anna (1969)

#0000A: The Rite (1969)

#0000A: Fårö Document (1970)

#0000A: The Touch (1971)

#0000A/#101: Cries And Whispers (1972)

#0000A/#229: Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

#0000A/#71: The Magic Flute (1975)

#0000A: The Serpent’s Egg (1977)

#0000A/#60: Autumn Sonata (1978)

#0000A: Fårö Document 1979 (1979)

#0000A: From The Life Of The Marionettes (1980)

#0000A/#262: Fanny And Alexander — The Theatrical Version (1982)

#0000A/#263: Fanny And Alexander — The Television Version (1982)

#0000A/#264: Fanny And Alexander — The Making Of Fanny And Alexander (1982)

#0000A: After The Rehearsal (1984)

#0000A: Saraband (2003)

                                            

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

#0000A: 250-page book featuring an essay by Catherine Wheatley.

#211: Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by Leo Braudy.

Commentary

None.

#0000A:

Introduction

By Bergman, recorded in 2003.

#0000A/#211: 

Exploring the film

Video discussion with Ingmar Bergman biographer Peter Cowie, recorded in 2003 (11 minutes).

Poster gallery for the trilogy films

Original U.S. theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

By Director
By Spine #