A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman (Through a Glass Darkly / Winter Light / The Silence) (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Bergman's huge body of work is how his style continued to grow and evolve, evenas he was drawn again and again to the great questions in life; is there a God? How do we face death? What is themeaning of being here? Can we be happy? Can people be kind to each other, or are we doomed only to cause harm? Is love real?Yet, while the themes stay consistent, how he approached them varied wildly over 50 years of film-making, from the uber-experimental,groundbreaking poetic surrealism of "Persona", to the highly symbolic "Seventh Seal", to his later works, more grounded in naturalism andday-to-day realism, but no less profound for it. Pieces like "Scenes From a Marriage", or "Cries and Whispers".These three films, which I've heard referred to as "the Faith Trilogy", "The Silence of God" trilogy, or simply "The Trilogy" as Criterion labelsthem, represent a paradoxic step forward from his earlier work. On one hand they are more poetic, subtle, works - even the highly surreal"The Silence" is more fragile and etherial than, say, the earlier "Virgin Spring". The film making is more stylized, from the never moving cameraof "Winter's Light" with it's very self conscious framings, and six minute long monologues, to the almost Fellini-esque "The Silence".On the other hand, the performances themselves are even more grounded in the kind of understated hyper-realism that was Bergman's evergrowing trademark.While not my personal favorites of Bergman's work (I am most attached to his later pieces) these are still must-see, if not 'easy' films, for anyfan of grown up thoughtful film-making. The direct depth with which they ponder the meaning of existence, and the depths of despair thatstruggle for meaning can bring is breathtaking, if sometimes hard to take. The work of his actors is consistently amazing, and the images are uniqueand unforgettable.These are films that only grow with time, and re-visiting, so owning copies is worth-while. There's no way to get all the levels of theseexistential explorations at one go. And the Criterion transfers - as is almost always the case - are first rate.Some specific notes on the films from my 'film diary':Through a Glass Darkly (1961)My personal favorite of Bergman's earlier works, I find this tremendously moving and haunting in equal degree.Bergman is still dealing with some of the same big issues (Is there a god?, What's the meaning of art?, etc.) but now on a much more humanlevel. The preachiness is gone, and the characters are no longer archetypes. Just human beings struggling with the difficulties of living.Phenomenal, understated performances all around, and beautiful cinematography more than compensate for occasional hints of staginess inthis chamber drama with just 4 characters; a father, his son and schizophrenic daughter, and her husband who loves her in spite of her illness.All the characters are human, identifiable, occasionally ugly, and always true. This film led to me thinking much more deeply about my ownlife then the impressive, but more on-the-nose cosmic questioning of 'The Seventh Seal' or even 'Wild Strawberries'.Winter Light (1962)I was slightly less affected by this than by `Through a Glass Darkly', which opens the trilogy, though a number of critics rank it higher, anda couple call it one of the greatest films ever made.Certainly, once again the acting is terrific, and the cinematography superb. More even than `Through a Glass Darkly' this film minesthe subtle shadings of the human face to an almost supernatural degree.But this film returns to Bergman's early tendency to be more on-the-nose with his themes. It's the story itself. A pastor haslost his faith, in the face of God's silence at the dark things of life. But in this story, just about everyone has surrendered to thatsort of hopeless depression, so the film feels more one note, more talky and `heady' than `Through a Glass Darkly', if more quietand subtle in its approach than the early Bergman works.It's not just that the characters don't change that bothers me, its that it feels clear from the outset there is no hope of change, whichmade me feel I'd already gotten the power of the film's questioning and aching loss (which is still considerable) long before its final moments.None-the-less, how rewarding to see any film that is about the big questions, and addresses them in a serious, beautifully made way.And I do find it haunting me since I've seen it.The Silence (1963)My first reaction was the same I've had to many of Bergman's earlier films: deep admiration, but not personaladoration. In this case, the more extreme, self-conscious surreal style threw me off. This feels more likesomething by Bunuel, Fellini, Beckett or Lynch (all of whom I love).Two sisters, polar opposites - one sensual, emotional, promiscuous, self-centered, representing the body, the id.The other, intellectual, sickly, sexually isolated stands for mind or super ego. The child of one, perhaps 8 yearsold, is accompanying them on a train trip, heading home. We never know where they're coming from or whythey went. They stop in a city clearly preparing for war, or under some sort of military occupation. They stayin a baroque but almost abandoned hotel, unable to communicate with anyone, since this unknown land has alanguage none of them speak.While one sister picks up lovers, and the other languishes ill in bed, the boy explores the creepy hotel ("The Shining"was definitely influenced by this), making friends with a circus full of dwarf performers, who, pointedly, are the mostnormal people in the film.All of this is done with very little dialogue (to the point where the effect feels forced and self- conscious at times). Ihad a hard time clicking in while watching the film, but images and moments have really stuck with me, and there'sgood reason why so many intelligent critics think it's a masterpiece. And certainly the exploration of surrealism herehelped prepared him for the leap to one of his greatest achievements, "Persona".

There were problems with customs that were resolved well. So it took a while for this box to arrive, but I was very happy with the support I got.

Excellent 9 dvd collection. Includes films: The Seventh Steal, Smiles of a Summernights, Sawdust and Tinsel, Wild Strawberries, Torment, Thirst, Port of call, Crisis, To Joy.