mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….to me……no……..at least not now before I get some others I want a lot……i would rent it again after awhile, just saw it the first time a month ago…….maybe i’ll change my mind….
Dude, that’s some heavy family drama, are you up for it? Ha-ha! Well, it’s Bergman all right. The good news is, if you’re concerned about the price, there’s quite a number of used Criterion copies around online. I got mine for $16 just late last year.
Own nothing, I say. Rent.
But this is pretty good. The mother-daughter story is perhaps a little overdrawn (the sister’s autism caused by neglect? really?), but the writing and the acting carry the film to a fairly deep place.
There is the moment early on when Eva plays the piano for Charlotte, wanting to connect to her mother’s life, and plays so badly, painfully so (the expressions on both women’s faces as she hits her false notes); and then Charlotte going to the piano and playing and speaking a three mintue post-graduate course on the true soul of Chopin. But the shift is about to occur as the daughter’s present anger trumps the mother’s past neglect and guilt takes over, powerfully articulated by Ms. Bergman, and carries the story to its conclusion.
Underneath the quality of the acting and the good script, a sense that these exaggerated emotions didn’t entirely belong to this sex, that the mother/daughter here are a metaphor for an off-camera son and his father. As always with Bergman, hiding behind the skirts.
Yeah, if you haven’t seen it then rent it first. But if it’s like 12 bucks then go for it. It’s one of the best movies he’s ever made, and the power of the conflict demolishes any other kinds of family fueds, or relationship battles you’ve seen in film prior. Plus, it’s uncompromising, and they don’t sell that anymore, so take it before it becomes a relic.
Thanks for all the advice. Aoaijea, I’ve liked your opinions in the past. I saw a good used copy of it for $15 and I was thinking of just buying it. I should say, I did not like Fanny & Alexander, so if it’s like that, I’m not sure. At the same time, I feel it’s something I should see.
one of the few bergman s films i dislike…but then again if grown fond of almost all of his films on second or third view
Justin Biberkopf
hey all Bergmaniacs, Bergmanites, and Bergomasters,
is Autumn Sonata worth owning?