MovieChat Forums > Interiors (1978) Discussion > 'Interiors' and 'Autumn Sonata'

'Interiors' and 'Autumn Sonata'

posted 19 years ago by kslink77
14 replies | jump to latest

I've always heard that Woody Allen took visual inspiration for 'Interiors' from Ingmar Bergman's films. But after seeing 'Autumn Sonata' for the first time today, putting aside the visual likeness, I was surprised at the number of indirect similarities between the storylines in each film.

Both films center on the relationship between a mother who is preoccupied with her career (Eve a successful interior decorator, Charlotte a celebrated pianist) with her daughters who require the maternal warmth neither character can provide. Both characters have used their professional focus as a decoy to hide their emotional barrenness and withdrawal from their daughters' lives. Charlotte has been physically absent from Eva and Helena; Eve's breakdown has left her emotionally detached from her daughters.

How each character's daughters react to their respective mother's abandonment is relatively similar, as well, at least in the case of Charlotte/Eva and Eve/Joey. Eva resents her mother for feeling that she wasn't good enough as a child: not beautiful enough; incapable of reading the books her mother gave her; unable to compete with her mother's piano accomplishments. Similarly, Joey despises Eve for failing to live up to her mother's expectation of creative excellence, floundering from one menial job to another and never quite "finding herself."

The climactic scenes in each film, when the daughter lashes out at the mother for their "perverseness and willfullness of attitude" (as Joey put it) seem nearly identical. In the end, true to form, both mothers again abandon their children.

On an even more indirect note of similarity, I couldn't help noticing the remarkable physical resemblance during certain scenes between Eva, played by Liv Ullmann, and Mia Farrow, especially in her role as Lane in Allen's 'September.'

[–] MisterWhiplash 19 years ago

That's a little hard to believe, not what you've stated necessarily, but just with the releases of the two films- both are films released in 1978, so it's hard for me to think that Woody saw Autumn Sonata, immediately wrote a script, and then shot the film and had it released the same year as the film that influenced it. (there's even a note in the trivia section on imdb about how Woody wanted Ingrid Bergman for Eva, but she was committed to Sontata)...If anything, Woody was influenced by other Bergman films (perhaps with parts of the 'trilogy', minus the God influences), but also likely other infamous 19th/20th century playwrights like Strindberg and Ibsen, who pioneered the form of Naturalism and dark drama that is consisten in Interiors....but good comparison though, it is of constant interest to me how Woody and Bergman were linked (Husbands and Wives, however, I definitely feel was inspired by Scenes from a Marriage), as he even put in a funny Bergman reference in Manhattan, which was right after Interiors (the bit where Woody's character and Keaton's argue over Bergman's genius).

[–] kslink77 19 years ago

I agree completely. I should have more clearly stated that I was in no way inferring that Allen "remade" 'Autumn Sonata.' I was, however, surprised that the two films are so similar on so many levels, especially considering Allen's open admiration of Bergman's work. The many coincidences are interesting to point out but, ultimately, only coincidences.

[–] ageraldinepageturner 19 years ago

It does seem hard to believe that Woody Allen would have had time to write a script, and a good one at that, and make a film whole based on Autumn Sonata and have time to release it all in the same year. However, the two films do have some major simularities and from watching Allen, and from just basic triva, we know he is a huge Bergman fan. It's pretty interesting...

"..nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands"

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] thx2468 18 years ago

I think Autumn Sonata looks more like September. The mother-daughter relationship, the house, the colour of the film as well. Also in September we never see exteriors as well as in Autum Sonata. Both films have similarities.

[–] causegrrrl 18 years ago

>>>"I've always heard that Woody Allen took visual inspiration for 'Interiors' from 'Autumn Sonata,' given that Allen used Sven Nykvist, the same cinematographer Bergman used for his film."

Allen didn't use Nykvist until much later, only then in about four films.
('Interiors' cinematographer was Gordon Willis).

[–] andy_roy 18 years ago

Cinematically, Interiors reminds me more of Bergman's earlier films - Smiles of a summer Night and Wild Strawberries...

But Interiors is definitely Bergmanesque, almost like a tribute

[–] thatsweetbird 18 years ago

TY for this interesting comparison.

Since plagiarism seems unlikely, it is fascinating to conjecture to the similarities.

The synchronous thinking of similarly great artists who are interested in exploring similar questions with similar motifs?

[–] Hypothermia 18 years ago

Kslink, Allen did not use Sven Nykvist as his cinematographer. As usual, Allen used Gordon Willis, who frequently photographed his films.

[–] kslink77 18 years ago

Thanks to everyone who clarified that Allen used Gordon Willis, not Sven Nykvist, to shoot 'Interiors'. I apologize for the misinformation.

[–] Miguel_Cane 18 years ago

Hi!

I think that the more direct inspiration Allen found in the Bergman canon for Interiors is Cries & Whispers.

Check out the three sisters and the color schemes for all three characters (earth tones for Renata, greys and pales for Joey, Red for Flyn)

Just an idea, though.

[–] edsteven 17 years ago

Not just an idea, you're right.

It's Cries and Whispers this movie is based off of.

And Deconstructing Harry is based off Wild Strawberries.

[–] grybop 9 years ago

I came to this board to see if anyone else thought of these similarities as they were watching. Turns out I wasn't the only one! Very well put - although it was Mary Beth Hurt who reminded me of Liv Ullmann!

[–] Tommen_Forever 7 years ago

I saw Autumn Sonata first, about two years ago. I just finished Interiors tonight, and I knew its style felt familiar. The similarity between the two is unmistakable, so I found it strange that they both came out the same year because Interiors feels entirely and directly inspired by Autumn Sonata. Allen could not have found a better source of inspiration.

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