Ingmar Bergman The Metaphysical Angster

Five Essential Films Wild Strawberries The Seventh Seal Persona Cries and Whispers Fanny & Alexander

Five Rarely Seen Monica Sawdust & Tinsel The Silence Smiles of a Summer Night Through a Glass Darkly

"'Filmmaking' is for me a necessity of nature, a need comparable to hunger and thirst." ``The demons are innumerable, appear at the most inconvenient times and create panic and terror. But I have learnt that if I can master the negative forces and harness them to my chariot, then they can work to my advantage.''

If one were to narrow the scope of Ingmar Bergman's films it would be easy to just say that he makes films about women, God and death -- although not neccesarily in that order. Few filmmakers have been able to mix the Nordic drama of dread with such skill, exhiliration and meaning. Part of this is because of the sheer talent he has in front of and behind the camera but part of it is because he taps into the communication that many of us have with ourselves about life, death, religion (or lack of it) and the very essence of existing in a self conscious world. Early on Bergman's films were character driven but had a root in older narrative traditions. But as he became a better more bold filmmaker the stories took backseat to the character development and the sheer cinematic structure of the story. Persona is a great example of his talent. The film is an aesthetic and intellectual masterpiece yet it has real emotion and real psychological feel. Because of this it is a film that can draw the audience in and puzzle them at the same time.

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