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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning!, 6 May 2004
I had seen around 20 Bergman films before I watched this edition of "Sommarlek". I was taken by how good this film was considering that it was among the first ten movies where Bergman had both written and directed, and that this era of his career isn't much talked about in comparison to his films from mid 50's through mid 60's. The story is clever and has a perfect balance between all of its aspects. "Sommarlek" introduced a "new" side of Bergman to me. To think that I seem not to have experienced all of him after 20 movies, and that there is more than as much left to explore. What a Master! Tartan's edition of this movie is region-free, but not worth giving much compliments beside that. The picture is OK - it's not restored on close to a Criterion standard, but the audio should definitely have spent some more time in the restoration-studio before the disc's release - it distorts a bit, even silence fusses (a lot), and inconvenient "clip noises", that could easily have been removed can be heard. The special features are disappointing; there are filmographies for the two leading actors and for Bergman (as is the case on most of Tartan's Bergman DVD's), and two trailers; for Bergman’s “Persona” (1966) and “Autumn Sonata” (1978) - movies that have NOTHING to do with this picture, and furthermore is included on other Tartan discs. To sum up: 3/5 stars for the DVD (a big plus is that there are NO synchronization problems), 5/5 for the story, acting, directing, and cinematography. The movie is likely to grasp you, and make you forget about the bad sound quality, and it isn’t worth giving less than 5/5 stars for this movie because of something as stupid as the sound quality on a DVD. Enjoy a great film!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN EARLY BERGMAN FILM, 20 Oct 2007
Bergman's films are always interesting to look at, and this one is no exception. Some of the film's best visuals include a bleak white sky that only a black silhouette of the protagonist can be made out walking against, and a couple of excellent montages: one being the opening shots of slight movements in clouds, in a river and of rubbish on a footpath; the other being a montage of steam, skies and water as a boat sails along. Bergman also pays a lot of attention to sound here too, and in particular there is something rhythmic about the chugging boat sounds, and these sounds can be heard at times throughout the film even when the boat is not visible on screen. Silence, such as at the doctor's office, is also distributed well throughout.
The directing work in this early Bergman film is on par with some of his best direction. His screenplay is however well below par. It is one of his least challenging scripts - a simple tale of love between two young persons with none of the philosophy or analysis about how human beings function that make most of his films so interesting. It is well made, but often nothing more than sentimental fluff. The stop animation work is an awkward inclusion too and the film is full of unimportant events, such as the ups and downs of the ballet, that really have absolutely nothing to do with the story at hand. It is not one of Bergman's best films by far, but still a good sign of things to come from him, and fairly pleasant viewing. It is sort of similar to 'Wild Strawberries', and therefore it is rather amusing to hear the main character ask her lover whether he wants to pick some wild strawberries with her!
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?, 27 Aug 2009
We have this early fully formed(directed/written) Bergman film about the joyfulness of first love,the nostalgia on looking back to the transcience of youth,a woman in her late twenties looking back to the choices made when time didn't weigh upon her; she reflects upon rich layers of memory and projection: `Days like pearl, iridescent,upon a string of gold'. Bergman conjures up summer scenes on boats and rocky shores,clouds crossing the sun,sun glinting on water,running water,leaves blowing,accompanied by a montage of rich sounds:running water,birds whistling, steam boats chugging,days of fishing and swimming. Everything is framed by Marie's life as a ballerina with rehearsals, theatre backdrops,make up and mirrors and also her uncle who is lecherous and plying her with gifts and flattery, who would like to elope with her. After Henrik's tragic accident she is left feeling life has no meaning,she feels like a'painted marionnette' when she cries the `paint runs'.Maj Britt-Nilsson as Marie gives a stunning performance as she confesses her sense of chilling freedom to a man in clown make-up.She gives her present boyfriend David(a journalist) Henrik's diary to read so he can better understand her.This is the diary she received from her uncle belonging to Henrik picked up at the hospital where he died.He sends it many years later and it sets of the stream of her conscious reminiscences.We end on her dancing in Swan Lake and a strange sense, with her adult perspective, of renewal.
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