A story of broken souls, the art of performance, the sting of humiliation, and the way men and women destroy each other in their attempts to love each other, Ingmar Bergman’s masterful circus drama has always been considered the best of his pre-breakout features, but until now it’s never been available in as stunning a print as this new presentation, thanks yet again to Criterion, so Bergman buffs and film fans alike can finally appreciate its true brilliance. This was the first collaboration between Bergman and his famous cameraman Sven Nykvist, sharing credit with Hilding Bladh, whose washed-out photography of the opening flashback sequence is almost akin to the Russian silent period, and though he wouldn’t work with Nykvist again for another seven years, it’s obvious the seeds were planted for one of the great long term collaborations in film history. Historian Peter Cowie’s informative commentary track is presented in lieu of any interviews or documentaries, but just having the film available again, looking as good as it ever has, is a godsend for fans of this true cinematic giant.