Review of Cries and Whispers (1972) by Linda K — 16 Jan 2007
As it has been said before, this cinematic masterpiece and experience is about a group of three sisters and their house keeper. The sister, Agnes, is dying of cancer and her sisters Karin and Maria pretend to care for her and the maid, Anna, truly shows how family bonds can be the weakest.
Anna is truly a compassionante woman who wants to relieve Agnes from the excruciating pain she is going through. While Agnes is slowly dying in her bed and keeping track of memories and feelings, her sisters deal with their isolation and their own problems.
Karin seems very cold and distant. But once we start hearing her thoughts and her memories. They show you why she is so distant, it shows how she deals with her pain. Karen Thulin gives one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen.
She delivers the mutilation scene with such honesty and the viewer can't help but feel terrified when faced with her it. Liv Ullman gives an equally amazing performance as Maria. Maria is the sympathetic sister.
The viewer learns that Maria is a purely shallow person who uses her sympathetic attitude to manipulate people. Then there is the maid Anna. She gives one of the most fascinating performances I have seen.
She also gives the most touching scenes in the entire film. In the end, Anna is left alone in the house that is now empty. Agnes has died and the sisters and their husbands have left. Maria and Karin both think that Anna should at least be allowed to stay in the house a few more months till she finds work and she should be allowed to keep a relic in memory of Agnes and all the hardwork and devotion she gave to her.
Anna says she wants nothing, but once everyone is gone. Anna pulls out her keepsake and her memory of Agnes. She pulls out Agnes's journal and begins to read it. It then goes to a flashback of the sisters and Anna in a happier time.
As Anna reads the passage we catch our last glimpse of Agnes alive and happy. It is one of the most haunting scenes ever on screen. Another truly amazing scene is the dream sequence. When Liv Ullman begins to freak out and screams, it is truly terrifying in a unspeakable way.
This is my favorite Bergman film so far. I have only seen the Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries not counting this.
This review of Cries and Whispers (1972) was written by Linda K on 16 Jan 2007.
Cries and Whispers has generally received very positive reviews.
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