Saraband (B or 3/4 stars)
Saraband: An erotic dance btwn. 2 people. There are 4 main characters in this movie; each taking their turn to dance (metaphorically) with one another.
'Saraband' is a Swedish drama directed by 85 yr. old Ingmar Bergman. A naive, nostalgic Marianne (Liv Ullmann), 30 yrs. after divorcing Johan (Erland Josephson), decides to visit him at his isolated summer cottage in Dalarna. However, she arrives in the middle of an intense family drama between Johan, his estranged son, Henrik (Borje Ahlstedt), & his musically-talented granddaughter, Karin (Julia Dufvenius). This is a sequel from a 30 yr. old movie, Scenes From a Marriage. I may have to seek it out because I find the characters and their inter-relationships to be quite interesting, & full of history.
Looking over a smattering of old photographs on her dining room table, Marianne narrates to us, the audience. Though an adulterous Johan had done her wrong 30 yrs. ago, she somehow feels the need to see him again. She finds the elderly Johan napping in his rocking chair. She studies him, & wakes him with a gentle kiss. This one scene sets the stage for these characters and how, immediately, we 'get' them. Soon after, we find that Johan & his son, Henrik, have a very strained relationship; why, we're not so sure yet. Henrik's wife, mother of Karin, had recently died, & her ghost hangs over the family like a dead weight.
Later, we find Henrik giving his gifted daughter some cello lessons. She wants to go away to a prestigious European college for music. But Henrik is in denial of her desire to leave (him). Marianne begins to realize that Johan's power struggle with Henrik, his relationship with Karin, and most importantly, Henrik's bizarre, incestuous relationship with his own daughter is poisoning the family from inside out. Will Marianne's sage presence help smooth over the family's problems? Are the problems too deeply rooted? With unfortunate images of her past (with Johan) flooding her mind, she must be asking, what have I gotten myself into?
This emotional family saga slowly builds & builds. The hatred in the eyes between Johan & Henrik (and vice-versa) is very intense. This film shows that time can pass, time 'can' heal old wounds, but that growing older does not mean a better life is in store for you. This movie is a clinic on exceptional acting. The looks they give one another, the quiet ponderings, warm family recollections, & even the cruel family banters are what keep your attention here. Saraband's contents can be grim and pitiful; difficult to watch, yet not really depressing. There's just enough uplifting sentiment in this melodrama to deem it entirely watchable.
'Saraband' is a Swedish drama directed by 85 yr. old Ingmar Bergman. A naive, nostalgic Marianne (Liv Ullmann), 30 yrs. after divorcing Johan (Erland Josephson), decides to visit him at his isolated summer cottage in Dalarna. However, she arrives in the middle of an intense family drama between Johan, his estranged son, Henrik (Borje Ahlstedt), & his musically-talented granddaughter, Karin (Julia Dufvenius). This is a sequel from a 30 yr. old movie, Scenes From a Marriage. I may have to seek it out because I find the characters and their inter-relationships to be quite interesting, & full of history.
Looking over a smattering of old photographs on her dining room table, Marianne narrates to us, the audience. Though an adulterous Johan had done her wrong 30 yrs. ago, she somehow feels the need to see him again. She finds the elderly Johan napping in his rocking chair. She studies him, & wakes him with a gentle kiss. This one scene sets the stage for these characters and how, immediately, we 'get' them. Soon after, we find that Johan & his son, Henrik, have a very strained relationship; why, we're not so sure yet. Henrik's wife, mother of Karin, had recently died, & her ghost hangs over the family like a dead weight.
Later, we find Henrik giving his gifted daughter some cello lessons. She wants to go away to a prestigious European college for music. But Henrik is in denial of her desire to leave (him). Marianne begins to realize that Johan's power struggle with Henrik, his relationship with Karin, and most importantly, Henrik's bizarre, incestuous relationship with his own daughter is poisoning the family from inside out. Will Marianne's sage presence help smooth over the family's problems? Are the problems too deeply rooted? With unfortunate images of her past (with Johan) flooding her mind, she must be asking, what have I gotten myself into?
This emotional family saga slowly builds & builds. The hatred in the eyes between Johan & Henrik (and vice-versa) is very intense. This film shows that time can pass, time 'can' heal old wounds, but that growing older does not mean a better life is in store for you. This movie is a clinic on exceptional acting. The looks they give one another, the quiet ponderings, warm family recollections, & even the cruel family banters are what keep your attention here. Saraband's contents can be grim and pitiful; difficult to watch, yet not really depressing. There's just enough uplifting sentiment in this melodrama to deem it entirely watchable.