A life’s career in images- Ingmar Bergman’s early works return to the silver screen.
The Swedish director Ingmar Bergman experienced fame and notoriety throughout his whole life and was presented with many awards in Cannes, at the Berlinale and at the Academy Awards. His breakthrough came in 1955 with the film Smiles of a Summer Night, for which he was awarded the Jury Prize in Cannes. In 1970 he was awarded with an Oscar for his life’s work and in 1997 Cannes awarded him for his life’s achievement. Next year, the 61st Berlinale will honour Bergman with an extensive retrospective of his work.
Bergman, the Swedish arthouse film director, who died in 2007, is considered to be one of the most distinguished film-makers of the 20th century. His repertoire includes some 60 films which are now stored in the Bergman Archive in the Swedish Cultural Institute and is part of the UNESCO Memory of the World programme. In collaboration with the Swedish Film Archive, Europe’s Finest Cinema on Demand Service has put together digital copies (DCPs in 2K resolution, DCI-compliant) with revised sound of five of Bergman’s earlier films:
It Rains on Our Love (1946)
A Ship Bound For India (1947)
Naked Night (1953)
Dreams (1955)
So Close To Life (1958)
The films can be booked by programme directors of cinemas as a series or individually.
Europe’s Finest has the following films in stock:
It Rains on Our Love
(Det Regnar På Vår Kärlek) 1946, 95min
Starting over... Maggi is homeless and has an unplanned pregnancy. David has just been released from prison. When their paths meet, love between these two antiheroes is awakened, as is the will to break free from the confines of their fate. They seek refuge in an abandoned cabin, but soon they will realise that they cannot flee from their past. The owner of the cabin, the church and bureaucracy are hot on their heels.
A Ship Bound For India (Skepp Till India Land) 1947, 96min
The claustrophobic confines of a ship become the scene of a nightmarish father-son relationship. The boy Johannes is oppressed by his father, who brutally manipulates his powerful position of captain on board the ship. Johannes breaks the cycle when he falls in love with Sally, who had been brought on board by his father. The dark mood and unusual composition of images in this early Bergman film make it a milestone in his career.
Naked Night (Gycklarnas Afton) 1953, 92min
This is a masterpiece of early Expressionism which is full of vital energy, breaks all the rules and has paved the way for Swedish arthouse cinema. The story is based around a small, down-and-out circus that tours around the South of Sweden in the 20s. Each day is a fight for survival, food, accommodation and human dignity. In the circus tent a myriad of human emotions are expressed: passion, rage, jealousy, failure, patience, humiliation, pride and the joy of laughter. One day the circus pitches its tent in the home town of the circus director Albert. The performance on this night will be unforgettable.
Dreams (Kvinnodröm) 1955, 87min
Fashion photographer Susanne accompanies the model Doris to a shoot in Gothenburg. Susanne meets with her ex-lover here, the now married Henrik. Henrik’s wife breaks in on them in Susanne’s hotel room. In the meantime, Doris meets the older and wealthy consul Sönderby while out shopping. Sönderby feels that he can win Doris over with lavish gifts. A contemplation on desire and a reflection of the human soul seen through slivers of display windows.
So Close To Life (Nära Livet) 1958, 84min
In this film the themes of a new beginning and pregnancy come as nothing new to Bergman. Three women meet for completely different reasons in a maternity unit. One miscarriage, one illegal abortion and one unfulfilled wish for a child leads them to the same ward. Their fates are indiscernibly linked through their search for the right way. The three actresses Ingrid Thulin, Eva Dahlbeck and Bibi Andersson were awarded in Cannes for their authentic and courageous performances.
Bergman, the Swedish arthouse film director, who died in 2007, is considered to be one of the most distinguished film-makers of the 20th century. His repertoire includes some 60 films which are now stored in the Bergman Archive in the Swedish Cultural Institute and is part of the UNESCO Memory of the World programme. In collaboration with the Swedish Film Archive, Europe’s Finest Cinema on Demand Service has put together digital copies (DCPs in 2K resolution, DCI-compliant) with revised sound of five of Bergman’s earlier films:
It Rains on Our Love (1946)
A Ship Bound For India (1947)
Naked Night (1953)
Dreams (1955)
So Close To Life (1958)
The films can be booked by programme directors of cinemas as a series or individually.
Europe’s Finest has the following films in stock:
It Rains on Our Love
(Det Regnar På Vår Kärlek) 1946, 95min
Starting over... Maggi is homeless and has an unplanned pregnancy. David has just been released from prison. When their paths meet, love between these two antiheroes is awakened, as is the will to break free from the confines of their fate. They seek refuge in an abandoned cabin, but soon they will realise that they cannot flee from their past. The owner of the cabin, the church and bureaucracy are hot on their heels.
A Ship Bound For India (Skepp Till India Land) 1947, 96min
The claustrophobic confines of a ship become the scene of a nightmarish father-son relationship. The boy Johannes is oppressed by his father, who brutally manipulates his powerful position of captain on board the ship. Johannes breaks the cycle when he falls in love with Sally, who had been brought on board by his father. The dark mood and unusual composition of images in this early Bergman film make it a milestone in his career.
Naked Night (Gycklarnas Afton) 1953, 92min
This is a masterpiece of early Expressionism which is full of vital energy, breaks all the rules and has paved the way for Swedish arthouse cinema. The story is based around a small, down-and-out circus that tours around the South of Sweden in the 20s. Each day is a fight for survival, food, accommodation and human dignity. In the circus tent a myriad of human emotions are expressed: passion, rage, jealousy, failure, patience, humiliation, pride and the joy of laughter. One day the circus pitches its tent in the home town of the circus director Albert. The performance on this night will be unforgettable.
Dreams (Kvinnodröm) 1955, 87min
Fashion photographer Susanne accompanies the model Doris to a shoot in Gothenburg. Susanne meets with her ex-lover here, the now married Henrik. Henrik’s wife breaks in on them in Susanne’s hotel room. In the meantime, Doris meets the older and wealthy consul Sönderby while out shopping. Sönderby feels that he can win Doris over with lavish gifts. A contemplation on desire and a reflection of the human soul seen through slivers of display windows.
So Close To Life (Nära Livet) 1958, 84min
In this film the themes of a new beginning and pregnancy come as nothing new to Bergman. Three women meet for completely different reasons in a maternity unit. One miscarriage, one illegal abortion and one unfulfilled wish for a child leads them to the same ward. Their fates are indiscernibly linked through their search for the right way. The three actresses Ingrid Thulin, Eva Dahlbeck and Bibi Andersson were awarded in Cannes for their authentic and courageous performances.
