Comments on: A PASSION by Ingmar Bergman http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/ The Oscars, film awards, new releases, Los Angeles screenings, movie classics, gay movies, film festivals, box office, foreign and independent films Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:29:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: Peterhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-500999 Peter Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:11:11 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-500999 This was my first Bergman film and after digesting it for a night, I was hoping to find an intelligent discussion to fill in some of the nuances I missed and to solidify the ones I didn't. Your review was exactly what I was looking for after plodding thru other less insightful ones. Now for the negative. After enjoying the review, I was a little taken aback by your analysis of Marc Gervais' interpretations of Bergman films. In fact it comes across as quite pompous and detracts from what had been to that point an enjoyable review. It doesn't take away from the insight that I gained, but it did leave me with a bad taste overall. It almost seemed like you had a personal reason rather than intellectual for elaborating such a negative viewpoint on Mr. Gervais's scholarship. I know critics do not have to agree, but this is film-making. Taking such a visceral stance regarding someone else's interpretation that differs from your own approaches the mentality of the grade school bully. Otherwise, again I want to thank you for completing what was a memorable film watching experience for me. I look forward to going backwards in time to see Bergman's other films. Looks like I may have started with the best one. This was my first Bergman film and after digesting it for a night, I was hoping to find an intelligent discussion to fill in some of the nuances I missed and to solidify the ones I didn't. Your review was exactly what I was looking for after plodding thru other less insightful ones.

Now for the negative. After enjoying the review, I was a little taken aback by your analysis of Marc Gervais' interpretations of Bergman films. In fact it comes across as quite pompous and detracts from what had been to that point an enjoyable review. It doesn't take away from the insight that I gained, but it did leave me with a bad taste overall. It almost seemed like you had a personal reason rather than intellectual for elaborating such a negative viewpoint on Mr. Gervais's scholarship. I know critics do not have to agree, but this is film-making. Taking such a visceral stance regarding someone else's interpretation that differs from your own approaches the mentality of the grade school bully.

Otherwise, again I want to thank you for completing what was a memorable film watching experience for me. I look forward to going backwards in time to see Bergman's other films. Looks like I may have started with the best one.

]]> By: Dan Schneiderhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-483686 Dan Schneider Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:24:57 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-483686 Well, Seventh Seal is a bit overrated, as is Persona, although both can be seen as great. A Passion is better than both. But I was mainly referring to Through A Glass, Darkly, probably his worst film of the 60s, although not a bad film, just a mediocre one w a bit too obvious symbolism and a tad melodramatic. Well, Seventh Seal is a bit overrated, as is Persona, although both can be seen as great. A Passion is better than both. But I was mainly referring to Through A Glass, Darkly, probably his worst film of the 60s, although not a bad film, just a mediocre one w a bit too obvious symbolism and a tad melodramatic.

]]> By: Adamhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-483680 Adam Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:32:27 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-483680 Thank you very much for writing down your thoughts. I watched the film last night and wasn't really sure what to make of it. Some of what you've outlined has helped to clear up some of the questions that I had. I'm curious though. To what earlier "more famous" Bergman films do you refer to when you say that they weren't as successful at accomplishing their goals? Of his earlier work, I've only seen "The Seventh Seal" and "Wild Strawberries," but I thought that both of those, with particular regard to the former, were excellent. Thank you very much for writing down your thoughts. I watched the film last night and wasn't really sure what to make of it. Some of what you've outlined has helped to clear up some of the questions that I had.

I'm curious though. To what earlier "more famous" Bergman films do you refer to when you say that they weren't as successful at accomplishing their goals? Of his earlier work, I've only seen "The Seventh Seal" and "Wild Strawberries," but I thought that both of those, with particular regard to the former, were excellent.

]]> By: Wassimhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-224528 Wassim Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:14:18 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/the-passion-of-anna-ingmar-bergman/#comment-224528 This is one of the best reviews I've read regarding Bergman's A Passion. A truly magnificent work in the late 60's that only very few -like Mr Schneider here- are capable to appreciate. This is one of the best reviews I've read regarding Bergman's A Passion.
A truly magnificent work in the late 60's that only very few -like Mr Schneider here- are capable to appreciate.

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