#0000A: BERGMAN, Ingmar: The Rite (1969)

BERGMAN, Ingmar (Sweden)

The Rite [1969]

Spine #0000A
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:

#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: Brink Of Life (1958)

#0000A/#537: The Magician (1958)

#0000A: The Devil’s Eye (1960)

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

#0000A/#209: Through A Glass Darkly (1961)

#0000A/#211: The Silence (1963)

#0000A/#210: Winter Light (1963)

#0000A: All These Women (1964)

#0000A/#701: Persona (1966)

#0000A/#961: Shame (1968)

#0000A: Hour Of The Wolf (1968)

#0000A: The Passion Of Anna (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

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

99

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