Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on July 04, 2004 at 06:43:57

In Reply to: Coincidence: Last night we watched "Through the Glass Darkly." posted by tinear on July 04, 2004 at 04:37:19:

...is on my list of films to revisit shortly - I plan on buying the Criterion Trilogy in a week or so. It was the first film Bergman did with Nykvist.

From my memory you are right, it is disturbing, like many of his films, but also much more mainstream Bergman.

The Shame in that sense falls outside his usuall tradition, in my view. In this one he really lets his surrealism, which is most often extremely subtle or used in severe moderation, run lose. The whole film is one long nightmare and it seems to be overdone... but perhaps the fact we viewed it late, after long day, played its role too.

Many of us (if not all) have such nightmares from time to time, and we can identify with them. However, in general I am not a surrealism lover, I think it is flimsy foundation if all and by itself, and should be rather used as a spice.

If you haven't seen this one, definitely get it. Heck, get this whole MGM set - the image quality is simply superb, rivaling Criterion in my estimation, and price is great.