Review of Cries and Whispers (1972) by Sausages M — 05 Nov 2012

It's hard to know how to review such a viscerally painful film. All I know is everyone was miserable, some to the point of total self-loathing; and this was a study in pain. The pain of existence; the pain of relationships; the pain we cause each other. Which presumably explains all the red.

Shot like a painting, moving like a stage play, scripted like a diary- the best description of this film is that it's absorbing. If you don't like subtitled 'art' films, then you should avoid it. But you're missing out. One star deducted for the painfully slow start, no doubt deliberate (there's that pain again) in that the film only 'comes alive' once Agnes has died. Ingrid Thulin gave the stand-out performance for me; Karin is a study in someone who cannot come to terms with her own suffering, in stark contrast to her sister who cannot understand the suffering of others, and is indifferent towards it and of course her other sister Agnes who accepts her suffering because of her faith even though she is dying.

You have to see through the 'lack' of plot and recognise this is a study. I think my review may have failed to do its job. Oh well, let's put it this way: if you have a brain, watch this film!