Ingmar Bergman Films on Film4 next week

[johnb]

Just thought I'd mention that Film 4 seems to be having an Ingmar Bergman "season" next week. They are broadcasting eight (!) of his films.

I haven't noticed any Bergman films broadcast on TV for years (or perhaps decades), so it is a rare opportunity so sample his work. You need a recorder or time shifting device of some kind though as most of the films are scheduled for the early hours.

Monday:
- Through a Glass Darkly
- Winter Light
- The Silence

Tuesday:
- Summer Interlude

Wednesday:
- Waiting Women

Thursday:
- Wild Strawberries
- Smiles of Summer

Friday:
- Summer with Monika

[Mandryka]

All worthy choice, there. And all from his famed mid-period.

[DracoM]

But not 'Fanny and Alexander'? Which I would rate the best thing he made after The Seventh Seal? Winter Light is possibly the best of the bunch listed, isn't it?

[2LO]

It's not being shown, but did anyone like The Serpent's Egg? Bergman was probably uncomfortable with the English language, the joint US/German producers (although filmed in Bavaria) and David Carradine's inscrutable performance - but I can't be alone in actually liking it, if only for its very atmospheric, very 10W lightbulb depiction of Weimar Berlin interiors.

Maybe I was in my Isherwood period - haven't seen it since it was released.

[Mandryka]

It's not being shown, but did anyone like The Serpent's Egg? Bergman was probably uncomfortable with the English language, the joint US/German producers (although filmed in Bavaria) and David Carradine's inscrutable performance - but I can't be alone in actually liking it, if only for its very atmospheric, very 10W lightbulb depiction of Weimar Berlin interiors.

Maybe I was in my Isherwood period - haven't seen it since it was released.

I've only seen it once, but didn't think it deserved its reputation as 'Bergman's other turkey' (the first being The Devil's Eye, though I think About These Women is the worst IB film I've ever seen).

I think the film conveys very powerfully the feeling of being persecuted - which makes a kind of sense, as Bergman no doubt felt he was himself being 'persecuted' by the Swedish tax authorities at this point in his life.

[2LO]

I've only seen it once, but didn't think it deserved its reputation as 'Bergman's other turkey' (the first being The Devil's Eye, though I think About These Women is the worst IB film I've ever seen).

I think the film conveys very powerfully the feeling of being persecuted - which makes a kind of sense, as Bergman no doubt felt he was himself being 'persecuted' by the Swedish tax authorities at this point in his life.

Haven't seen "About These Women", but even as the 'worst IB film you've ever seen', I don't suppose it's the worst film you've seen. Don't think I've ever seen a bad Bergman film - a bit like Woody Allen for me; even though he's churned out some decidedly humdrum pictures, they're always worth seeing, somehow.

I once thought the same of Roman Polanski, and ignored the critics universal panning of 'Pirates' when it appeared. That was one of the worst films I've ever sat through!

[Mandryka]

Haven't seen "About These Women", but even as the 'worst IB film you've ever seen', I don't suppose it's the worst film you've seen. Don't think I've ever seen a bad Bergman film - a bit like Woody Allen for me; even though he's churned out some decidedly humdrum pictures, they're always worth seeing, somehow.

I once thought the same of Roman Polanski, and ignored the critics universal panning of 'Pirates' when it appeared. That was one of the worst films I've ever sat through!

I don't think anyone as prolific as a Bergman (or a Fassbinder) can fail to turn out at least one bad film (I think both made more than one). I think 'great' film directors tend to get into a space where they aren't able to judge their material properly - and come to think that even their most whimsical ideas are worthy of building a film around. That's certainly what went wrong with All These Women, I'd say.