#A27: BERGMAN, Ingmar: The Rite (1969)

BERGMAN, Ingmar (Sweden)

The Rite [1969]

Spine #A27
Blu-ray

Synopsis 1

Ingmar Bergman conceived this experimental work as a response to his controversial tenure at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. Focusing on four characters — a trio of actors charged with obscenity (Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand, Anders Ek), and the judge assigned to try them (Erik Hell) — The Rite alternates between criminal interrogations and interpersonal confrontations shown in flashback, leading to a final "performance" that makes for one of the most bizarre moments in Bergman's filmography. Staged on a bare sets and shot almost entirely in close-up, The Rite condenses a decade's worth of cinematic exploration into seventy-five tense, unsettling minutes.

Synopsis 2

Bergman conceived this experimental work as a response to his controversial tenure at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. Focusing on four characters — a trio of actors charged with obscenity (Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Björnstrand, Anders Ek), and the judge assigned to try them (Erik Hell) — The Rite alternates between criminal interrogations and interpersonal confrontations, leading to a final "performance" that makes for one of the most bizarre moments in Bergman's filmography. Staged on a bare sets and shot almost entirely in close-up, The Rite condenses a decade's worth of cinematic exploration into seventy-five tense, unsettling minutes.

75 minutes
Black & White

Monaural

in Swedish

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2018

Director/Writer

Ingmar Bergman was 51 when he directed The Rite.

Other Bergman films in the Collection:

#A1/Eclipse Series 1: Crisis (1946)
#A2/Eclipse Series 1: A Ship to India (1947)

#A3/Eclipse Series 1: Port of Call (1948)
#A4/Eclipse Series 1: Thirst (1949)
#A5/Eclipse Series 1: To Joy (1950)
#A6: Summer Interlude (1951)
#A7: Waiting Women (1952)
#A8: Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
#A9: Summer With Monica (1953)
#A10: A Lesson in Love (1954)
#A11: Dreams (1955)
#A12: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
#A13/#11: The Seventh Seal (1957)
#A14/#139: Wild Strawberries (1957)
#A15: Brink of Life (1958)
#A16/#537: The Magician (1958)
#A17: The Devil's Eye (1960)
#A18/#321: The Virgin Spring (1960)
#A19/#209: Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
#A20/#211: The Silence (1963)
#A21/#210: Winter Light (1963)
#A22: All These Women (1964)
#A23/#701: Persona (1966)
#A24: Hour of the Wolf (1968)
#A25/#961: Shame (1968)
#A26: The Passion of Anna (1969)
#A28: Fårö Document [1970)

#A29: The Touch (1971)
#A30/#101: Cries and Whispers (1972)
#A31/#229: Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
#A32/#71: The Magic Flute (1975)
#A33: The Serpent's Egg (1977)
#A34/#60: Autumn Sonata (1978)
#A35: Fårö Document 1979 (1979)

#A36: From the Life of Marionettes (1980)
#A37/#263: Fanny and Alexander -- The Theatrical Version (1982)
#A38/#262: Fanny and Alexander -- The Television Version (1982)
#A39/#264: The Making of Fanny and Alexander (1982)
#A40: After the Rehearsal (1984)
#A41: Saraband (2003)

The Film

The Extras

99

By Director
By Spine #