tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877371347086447490.post81404282995472549..comments2024-03-28T20:37:08.491+11:00Comments on The Audient: Getting acquainted with ... Ingmar BergmanDerek Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750747272647975591noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877371347086447490.post-32854067804173663192011-04-04T12:28:58.499+10:002011-04-04T12:28:58.499+10:00Travis, I agree that The Seventh Seal is the best ...Travis, I agree that The Seventh Seal is the best of the bunch. Now that it's been about 20 years since I've seen it, I want to see it again. Yeah, I knew about the folk ballad inspiring The Virgin Spring. More than anything, the problem I had with his comment was that there should be no litmus test for what makes a good film fan a good film fan. I don't think that was his point, exactly, and he did admit to indulging in a little button-pushing and snobbery. I just think it's difficult to hold someone to one particular standard for discovering movies. Certain things can slip through our fingers while we're seeing other certain things. As long as we're seeking things out and expanding our horizons, we're good.<br /><br />Simon, that's only one fewer than I've seen, and I don't feel like a failure, so there, you're off the hook. Fanny & Alexander is worth it, but I think you have to be willing to watch in multiple sittings. I don't know about you, but that's the only practical approach for me to watch a longer movie these days. If it affected my enjoyment in some way, so be it. Ever since I watched the comparatively short The Motorcycle Diaries in four separate sittings, and still loved it, I've learned to let myself off the hook on this topic.Derek Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750747272647975591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877371347086447490.post-918860207462734732011-04-03T14:15:44.034+10:002011-04-03T14:15:44.034+10:00I've only seen Seal, Spring, and Persona. I f...I've only seen Seal, Spring, and Persona. I feel like such a failure.<br /><br />Especially since I have plenty of time to watch F&A, but no patience.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085105568601878075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877371347086447490.post-49783603462679672192011-04-03T06:30:14.407+10:002011-04-03T06:30:14.407+10:00I saw my first Bergman movies last September as pa...I saw my first Bergman movies last September as part of a Criterion Collection viewing challenge. In addition to <i>The Seventh Seal</i>, <i>Wild Strawberries</i> and <i>The Virgin Spring</i>, I also streamed <i>Smiles of a Summer Night</i>. Since then, I've also seen <i>Persona</i>.<br /><br />My initial reaction was that <i>The Seventh Seal</i> was the greatest of these, as it was not only visually arresting and artistically pursued the ambitions of the story, but it <i>felt</i> like a masterpiece should feel. Not very objective of me, I'll confess, but there you have it.<br /><br /><i>Wild Strawberries</i> I found resonated with me more strongly for some reason. Perhaps because it reminded me in some ways of Pixar's <i>Up</i>, but without the silliness.<br /><br />I was initially least taken in by <i>The Virgin Spring</i> because its story does feel relatively simple. After a week or so, though, I found myself dwelling on the performances. The famed attack scene is certainly haunting, yes, but it's Max von Sydow whose performance I found really got to me. The muted anguish, the smoldering hatred...even (and perhaps especially) the complete breaking down in the finale; it's one of the most powerful performances I've seen yet in a movie.<br /><br />Oh, and incidentally, I would admonish your movie snob friend that, while <i>Last House on the Left</i> was based on <i>The Virgin Spring</i>, both were in turn based upon a centuries old folk ballad. Bergman's interpretation may be the finest on film, but it wasn't the originator of the story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06381792002836474683noreply@blogger.com