Review of Autumn Sonata (1978) by Mitchell W — 21 Oct 2008

A powerful film built around Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullman's harrowing performances. Ingmar Bergman's films can be heavy on dialogue, but it would be unfair to criticize them for that. For one thing, he never abandons visual language in favor of straight dialogue - even within simple arrangements, his films are all the more compelling in the way he shapes what you see. But more importantly, he often writes situations that demand the precision of words, where the abstraction inherent in silent communication becomes a liability.

Over the course of one night, what's bottled up and evaded between Charlotte and Eva burns through, and often times it's so wrenching, it's difficult to watch. Bergman doesn't hesitate from the raw emotions most people refuse to hear, much less articulate, but he does so with great compassion and mercy. Allowing things to boil over can be disastrously melodramatic, but that's not the case here. As Eva crumbles, it's understood how excruciating and even degrading it is to be hurt, and then to be expected to bury it and behave as if that pain didn't exist. It's not just belittling, it's like you don't matter, you don't even exist. When Eva calls it 'annihilating,' there's no room for misinterpretation, that's exactly what it is.

Having all that articulated forces some kind of empathy because it doesn't let the audience off the hook. They can't gloss over anything when it's made direct and clear. They watch or they don't.

And that's really how the film ends. Without giving too much away, the final moment tears down the idea of escapism and retreating into false comforts. Going into a theater for two hours to allegedly 'escape' isn't a guarantee, especially if the movie's no good, but even if it is, what's left when the lights go up and you're back on the street? Wading in froth for two hours has its merit, but it's better to leave with a clearer head for what's around and what lies ahead.

"Autumn Sonata" is not perfect. In a career rich with great films, I wouldn't call it one of his best, but it's absolutely worthwhile.