Review of Shame (1968) by Walter M — 04 Jul 2004

With a civil war raging on around them, young married musicians Eva and Jan (Liv Ullmann & Max von Sydow, respectively) decamp to a rural farm where they make do with the occasional bottle of budgeted-for wine and fish off an old friend. Indeed, it?s a rather peaceful existence the two have going on until their small haven is plagued with soldiers from both sides. When one side arrest them as collaborators with the other, the colonel of that force ? an acquaintance before the war - frees them; freedom isn?t what it seems to be, however, when the colonel (Gunnar Björnstrand) makes multiple visits back to the pair?s cottage. At first he seems to be merely friendly and apologetic for what happened when they were arrested ? we learn, though, that he and Eva are more than just friends (as indicated in the scene where he kisses her in front of Jan, for instance) and when he realises his game is up, he returns once more with a wad of cash and tells Eva to do with it what she wishes. The opposing rebels soon return to the farm, though, and from there everyone?s fates take a turn for the worse?

As with other previous films, Bergman once again returns to a theme of seclusion and tumultuous relationships (Eva and Jan?s marriage is somewhat of a façade that each is continuing for reasons known only to them) and comes up trumps. The acting, as usual, is heartbreakingly real ? Ullmann, von Sydow and Gunnar Björnstrand are as magnificent as they?ve ever been. Watching Björnstrand?s character being shot dead by von Sydow ? and seeing that he knows he is going to die ? is a testament to the man?s acting ability. Photographed by Bergman?s later regular - the great Sven Nykvist - the film looks as bleak and desolate as the subject matter, which goes a long way in giving the film a downbeat, grim feeling of foreboding.

The one and only thing I disliked about watching [b]Shame[/b] was the fact that ? like [b]Persona[/b] ? it?s been released by MGM with a totally sub par commentary track by Marc Gervais. Dry and almost insight-free, Gervais once again offers up (from what I forced myself to listen to) a commentary on a masterpiece that ten different people from this board alone could?ve bettered. Still, the film itself is a bleak and unwavering masterpiece. [b][color=red]10/10[/color][/b].