Review of Cries and Whispers (1972) by Antonio A — 09 Feb 2013

Cries and Whispers is a hypnotic film that embraces us from the very beginning with a thick, almost dream-like atmosphere that repeatedly shatters when we are confronted with the characters' upsetting realities.

Andersson, Sylwan, Thulin and Ullmann give sublime performances that exceed by much what we could humanly expect from them; conveying pain, regret, boredom, love, sorrow and aloofness perfectly, they create together a fully realized, devastating portrait of women that feels timeless and universal despite its inherent theatricality.

The stunning cinematography full of haunting close-ups and the rigid, but evocative color palette of whites, reds and blacks used by Bergman and his team of collaborators complement the 4 main draws seamlessly, elevating the material to unmissable, unforgettable cinema.