I should preface this by saying I am something of an agnostic, if always spiritually curious person. Bergman is known for his conflicted attitudes towards religion. How do his films (I've only seen seventh seal and virgin spring, btw) affect you spiritually? They seem to resonate with me pretty powerfully.
Thanks.
I've seen about four of Bergman's films, including the two you cite...and it's still difficult to ascertain Bergman's stance on religion. He does seem more than just a bit interested in medieval religion, but that could be ascribed to simply telling an interesting story, not about his feelings on God and such. There does, however, seem to be a certain aloofness or coolness about his filming style and content. He seems to be indicating that "nature" is acting alone in all things..and that "God" as such is really irrelevant in the overall order of things. He may indeed be an agnostic, possibly approaching atheism.
shareWell they only instill what I've already learned. I have been through quite a religion based education and even though his films are kind of the opposite of I was taught (I was taught a Jewish based education while bergman's films are more christian/catholic based), the same fundamentals are used. God is one and all powerful and sometimes s hit happens that you just don't understand.
Plus I am an aspiring filmmaker, and God and religion is a big part of what I write about, and Bergman has definitely been a big influence in that respect. As well as other directors who's subject matter is about God quite a lot, like Luis Bunuel, or even Woody Allen.
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I just saw this film for the first time and these exact thoughts came to mind. My question is, if an artist does not believe in God, then why would they constantly reference it in their works?
I don't know the biographies of every one, but I would guess they were raised in religious households.
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There may be *SPOILERS* present here!
As a Christian, this movie really had an impact on me when I first saw it, and it was a very moving spiritual experience for me. I thought it was excellent, and could only have been better if it were filmed in color (Technicolor), with all the natural scenery, but it all falls flat in a black & white movie. The prayers were very heart-felt and natural.
Some of Max von Sydow's scenes reminded me of Charlton Heston's in EL CID (1961) when the great Christian warrior is about to go out and do battle with the minions of the Devil. I had to look up the cleansing ritual bath at the library, it is sort of a sauna, with the birch branches as cleansing instruments, and the bath is like a Jewish ritual mikva.
It is such a realistic, poignant story, beautifully told, brilliantly directed, and the violence is only what would actually occur in those circumstances. And the miracle at the end was so inspiring it made me cry. If Bergman was not a Christian, then what was his point in making this, other than to tell a medieval story in a realistic manner? The issues of faith and trust are completely believable, and the acting and characters fully realized, polarizing good against evil.
I gave this film a 9 out of 10. It would have been a 10 if it were in color.
Dejael
dock it a point for black and white?
maybe it being filmed without color made you focus more on the acting and story instead of the surroundings.
as far as realism, that is true except for the weird man in the cabin. i haven't figured that out.
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From what I have read he was a rather reluctant atheist. Apparently his atheism was near enough complete around the time of Through a glass darkly, but the pull never quite left him.
Bergman is a good atheist, rather than spewing cliched dribble and bile and poorly understood bastardized science like the militant atheist, he asks the right questions that can lead to doubt and that have to be addressed and come to terms with if you are to have a solid belief in a God and not turn a blind eye and rely solely on faith.
Why would a God stand by and watch an innocent child brutally raped and murdered, even after she saw no bad in them and shared her food? and many more like questions.
These may be issues asked by an atheist but they should be asked by every one.
Only those with no valid argument pick holes in people's spelling and grammar.
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Agreed. They are very spiritually powerful and yet void of any kind of preaching; and that Bergman was not a religious person (or at least was conflicted in his beliefs, as you state) makes the material even more powerful and relatable.
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