This would have to be my second favorite of Ingmar Bergman's next to "Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries)". It's visually striking style is captivating like all Bergman's films. the use of surrealism is like that of Hitchcock but with more of a fantasy-like style. the idea applies to all humans: we are all playing chess (or any other game) with death; we can't cheat, extend the game or go backwards. little things can be amended but not forgotten. the game of chess is a metaphor, and a brilliant one. i am not familiar with Sweedish folklore so i'm not sure if the film is an allegory as well but it feels like one. the film is set during the time of the Black Plague and is wiping out men as fast as the 'bring out your dead!' scene in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Like most Bergman films, we encounter several characters throughout the film who provide conflicts and comic relief. this is a dark film and one of the first to explore human emotion towards death. it dissects death providing the eerie tone Kubrick would have used. We meet the Grim Reaper whose appearence is subtle and again very surreal. This is an unforgettable adventure; one that ranks very high on my list.
Antonius Block, played by the wonderful Max von Sydow, is on the verge of death. He knows death is upon him and seeks answers about life. He and his squire, Gunnar Björnstrand, are on their way home from the crusades. the Grimm Reaper appers and tells Sydow that it is his time to die, but Sydow wants to play a game of chess for his life and to buy time to see his wife for the last time. on our way, we meet Death several times who appears cunningly and subtly. we see Witch Burners who are on their way to burn a young woman. in this powerful scene, Sydow asks her if she has seen the devil; does he exist-if he does, God exists which is another question he wants answered. we find that the squire has a heart and tries to save all that he can-like when he rescues a young women from rape. We meet clergymen, travelling actors (like in Fellini's "La Strada") and clowns who provide us with comic relief (and the people living during that time). we meet a young couple with a young boy. they symbolize holiness and survive at the end by meer chance. There are many interpretations of the film that go deep into shot by shot and i don't think that is necessary. i think everything is on the surface and i'm not just saying that. i have read film historian's interpretations of the film and something is not right. i don't think it's that complex. we all play a humiliating game of chess with Death knowing our fate of loss. it's not just during the Black Death but even now.
Antonius Block, played by the wonderful Max von Sydow, is on the verge of death. He knows death is upon him and seeks answers about life. He and his squire, Gunnar Björnstrand, are on their way home from the crusades. the Grimm Reaper appers and tells Sydow that it is his time to die, but Sydow wants to play a game of chess for his life and to buy time to see his wife for the last time. on our way, we meet Death several times who appears cunningly and subtly. we see Witch Burners who are on their way to burn a young woman. in this powerful scene, Sydow asks her if she has seen the devil; does he exist-if he does, God exists which is another question he wants answered. we find that the squire has a heart and tries to save all that he can-like when he rescues a young women from rape. We meet clergymen, travelling actors (like in Fellini's "La Strada") and clowns who provide us with comic relief (and the people living during that time). we meet a young couple with a young boy. they symbolize holiness and survive at the end by meer chance. There are many interpretations of the film that go deep into shot by shot and i don't think that is necessary. i think everything is on the surface and i'm not just saying that. i have read film historian's interpretations of the film and something is not right. i don't think it's that complex. we all play a humiliating game of chess with Death knowing our fate of loss. it's not just during the Black Death but even now.Sydow is amazing but his best performance for me was that in "Jungfrukällan" in 1960. in this film he is troubled and is very convincing. Gunnar was wonderfully constructed. he was bold, wise and brave but was benign. he was tired of war and death and took every oportunity to save those around him. The shots of Bergman's films are very similar: shadows reminicent of film-noir (which a lot of his films are) and ECUs. his films are dark and so is his cinematography. Woody Allen is almost his antithisis. Allen's films, for the most part are comedies. Yes, "Another Woman" and "Interiors" don't count but you know what i mean. the way Allens films are shot are very light and not textured. both filmmakers color pallet are very similar (in Bergman's color films): creams, beiges, turquoises etc. Allen's "Love and Death" was set in Midevil times and that is a direct homage to Bergman. The first Bergman film i saw was the masterpeice "Persona" from 1960 and i did not expect something so dark. i though if Allen was so inspired by Bergman, wouldn't Allen be making only dramas. well, wrong. Allen's love for Bergman is UNCANNY in all of his films and i would go through a shot by shot analysis of an Allen and Bergman but i'd rather you see them on your own time.
No comments:
Post a Comment