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Academy Award-winning Through A Glass Darkly (1961) is an intense drama about the emotional impact Karin, a schizophrenic girl has on three men – her doctor husband (Max Von Sydow – The Seventh Seal), who’s struggling to find a cure, her helpless father and her brother. It leaves a lasting impact on the paranoia of contemporary life with regular leading lady Harriet Andersson (Sawdust & Tinsel/ Summer With Monika) giving a memorably haunting performance as Karin. Winter Light (1962) is a powerful tale of how man defines his relationship to God and the search for spiritual belief. Bergman regular Max Von Sydow plays a disillusioned fisherman, whose wife suggests he finds solace from his local priest (Gunnar Björnstrand (Through A Glass Darkly/ Persona). But the priest himself is struggling with his own spiritual crisis, finding support from the local school mistress (Ingrid Thulin – The Magician/ Cries & Whispers). Bleakly powerful. The Silence (1963) offers a sombre view of two sisters forced apart by a desperation to fulfil their desires. Ester (Ingrid Thulin) and younger sister Anna (Gunnel Lindblom – The Seventh Seal/ The Virgin Spring) take a train journey with Anna’s son Johan. They arrive in a foreign town where they don’t know the language. Anna seeks solace in a man she meets in a club which brings her into conflict with her sister. A shattering vision of despair which challenged censorship at the time. |
Between
1961 and 1963, Bergman embarked on three films thematically concerned with
man’s relationship to God and the futility of spiritual belief. Together
these films form The Faith Trilogy, released by Tartan Video
on 28th January 2008, which proved a turning point for the
director, firmly establishing a strong on-going collaboration with renowned
cinematographer Sven Nykvist as well as exhibiting his mastery of direction.
