How Do You Appreciate The Films Of Ingmar Bergman?
Many have heard of Ingmar Bergman, but most have not delved into the master’s work. Bergman is often touted (by Woody Allen among many others) as the greatest film director of 20th-century cinema. I tend to agree. His films aspire to understand or at least be a witness to our greatest fears. And yes, his films seek to entertain us, too, but on a deeper level. Here’s a quick set of highlights from the early, middle and end of his career–and beyond. It’s a good sample from which to begin your exploration of his work. Bergman broke onto the international scene with “The Seventh Seal” in 1957. Screen this film to see why this black-and-white work has been discussed and parodied ever since. It’s a stark parable of a knight returning home from the crusades amid the time of the plague. He’s forced to literally play chess with Death to buy himself some time to figure this life out. The stark imagery, some surprisingly light moments and the vision of a young Max von Sydow are reason enough to