MovieChat Forums > Saraband (2004) Discussion > Henrik

Henrik

posted 14 years ago by Monsieur_Arkadin
2 replies | jump to latest

I am a big Bergman fan, part of the reason I love his films so much is how deeply we get to see his characters. No matter who, it's almost impossible to simply "judge" a Bergman character because we are put so deeply into their being that we at least have empathy for if not understand their actions.

This being said. I disliked Henrik intensely. He is the only Bergman character I feel I have simply "judged" (other than maybe the bishop in Fanny and Alexander.) I felt animosity towards his father was somewhat justified, but overall he was bad person. He was violent, controlling, vulgar, and downright creepy. I truly felt for him for a few brief moments, but was eventually overcome with a simple disdain for him.

I don't know what any of that means... I just thought it was worth pointing out.

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Jack White killed a man with his bare hands.... While singing and playing guitar.

[–] poetcomic1 11 years ago

It means, for one thing, that Börje Ahlstedt was MAGNIFICENT and gave one of the great all time Bergman portrayals as Henrik. His despicable speech in the church with Liv Ulmann ends with him pausing at the door as if wanting to go back to apologize but he doesn't. I can watch that scene over and over - he is mesmerizing, terrifying. Then, unusual for Bergman, the scene ends with a burst of religious light and a prayer - a token of faith in the face of such evil.

[–] dwarol 11 years ago

Well, the incestuous relationship he had with Karin (whether or not it was physical) just provokes immediate revulsion and dislike in most people. But it was his conversation with Marianne in the church that revealed his true character.

That said, I found Johan's character in this movie to be extremely distasteful as well. I saw "Scenes from a Marriage" when it first came out in 1973, so I don't remember the movie very well. While Johan was an extremely selfish person in that film, I don't remember him being anywhere near as bitter or twisted. In "Saraband" he's near the end of his life and has clearly learned how to use his inheritance to manipulate people. I didn't see him offering Karin a chance to get away being made out of concern for her so much as a way to get back at Henrik.