An Incredible Film..If Only the First half was Cut Down.

Really? I wished for a great part of the 2nd half was cut down.

I just watched it (the theatrical version) and have to agree with you. I was actually prepared to be let down by such a highly acclaimed film, but once it got into what is essentially the main plot I was hooked. I now feel like going on a binge of Bergman's films.

I'll take your list into consideration. The only ones I've seen so far are Persona and The Seventh Seal, but it's been a long time since I've watched them.

I've only seen the 5-hour version. It's my #3 movie of all time.

It's possible that in cutting down the first act, for your particular tastes, less became even less. For one thing, the more time we spend with the family as a happy family, the more heartbreaking what follows becomes. And so the first act, which IIRC is about 1:45 in the long version, is entirely the Christmas Eve and Christmas celebration of the family. There's no plot at all, per se. Just incredible character stuff, establishing who everyone is and what their relationships are, and jaw-dropping production design and cinematography. Only one scene, between Carl and his wife where he alternately abuses her verbally and apologizes (I'm not sure how much of that is in the theatrical cut), seems to have some fat that could be trimmed.

There are about 40 or 45 minutes missing from the theatrical cut that Bergman thought were absolutely essential, and about as many that he thought were valuable; the remaining 30 to 40 minutes he thought were inessential but worthwhile. You should really try it next.

Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.

I agree. When watching the first part in the 5 hour version i though this was going to be average at best and i just got myself into another 3.5 hours of boredom (i always finish movies i start), but the second part picked up at the end and the second half kept me glued to the monitor to the point where it felt like time skipped and that i always consider a quality of a good movie.



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The spirit of abysmal despair

I watched it for the first time tonight (christmas eve) ..the 5 hr 21 min version.. I somewhat agree, I thought it started somewhat slow and wasn't going any where but around the 1 hr 45/ 2 hr mark it started to pick up. I also agree that this slow start gave us a chance to take in the identity of the family.

I have only seen the miniseries and could barely get trough the first episode (90 minutes long). I only kept watching because everyone raves about F&A. I didn't care nor did I remember the faces of any of the characters from the first episode outside of the kids and the mother.

It only gets good once the mother marries with the Bishop (the second episode).