Review of Autumn Sonata (1978) by Beau M — 12 Jun 2007

A rather somber film that I thought was too heavily focused on monologues. Even with that in mind, this was an emotionally intense film that I certainly enjoyed watching. I'm not sure if the mother or daughter was supposed to be the more sympathetic character (or perhaps both), but I certainly cared much more for the mother (not unlike my feelings in Terms of Endearment, except in that instance I actively hated the daughter). I can understand where the daughter was coming from but her lack of forgiveness for her mother when she (the daughter) has displayed similar (albeit more passive aggressive and self-pitying) behaviors towards her husband. On that note, I liked how one could see how the mother's upbringing influenced her life, personality, and her own relationship with her daughter.

Very well acted, directed, and the mother's and daughter's characters were fleshed out nicely (it helps that 90% of the film was the two of them talking to each other).