Film as dream, film as music. No form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to pour emotions, deep into the twilight room of the soul.... Ingmar Bergman in The Magical Lantern. Saluting modern cinema’s iconic auteur and Sweden’s luminous legend, Suchitra Film Society and LACEFilms, as part of weekend with maestro series, have scheduled a triad of films to provide an explorative experience into his individualistic idiom of film making.
Bergman, who embraced the artistic and emotive power of film, to probe into darker, unknown realms of human soul, portraying pain and suffering, examing fragility of life, and faith and existence of God, recurring motif of his movies, left a rich repertoire of over 60 films in his lifetime.
Paying homage to the master of movies who described that “cinema was like an exciting mistress, but theatre a faithful wife,” who passed away recently, Suchitra and LACE present three of his celebrated works for the cinema faithfuls. The sojourn begins with The Magic Flute, Bergman’s indelible interpretation of Mozart’s fairy tale opera that celebrates love, forgiveness and brotherhood of man. In typical sublime style, Bergman frees the opera from the confines of opera house, while cherishing theatrical conventions, bringing intimacy and humour to individual’s search for eternal wisdom.
The delightful and delectable film scintillatingly captures the pristine performance intercutting it with audience reactions and back-stage shots. Set in mythical world, The Magic Flute, woos viewers into fairytale world that tells the saga of a young man determined to rescue his beautiful pricess from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. Famous for his melancholic movies, Bergman, in this finest operatic film creates surprisingly cheerful and charming world full of humour and romance.
Exploring the nature of human condition, the emotional and physical pain of its principal protagonists, Bergman’s ‘Cries & Whispers’, revolves around four women, Agnes, the young, virginal terminally ill owner of the manor, her sisters Maria and Karin who wait in attendance on her along with Anna, faithful and reliable maid.
The film, which focuses on the agonising last two days of Agnes’ life, her death, her resurrection and her legacy, offers a glimpse into the lives of these characters, terrible effects of emotional and physical pain they are afflicted with and different ways they cope with their suffering.
Set in the early 20th century Sweden, ‘Fanny & Alexander’ is Bergman’s swansong film which reveals an unusual warmth as the leisurely epic takes viewers into a well-to-do Swedish family the Ekdahls’ life, customs and behaviour. Seen through the eyes of the siblings young Alexander and his sister Fanny the film ends on a happy, life-affirming note. Screenings Saturday (6.45 pm) and Sunday (4 pm), Suchitra, Banashankari II Stage.
For details call: 26711785.
