This film is aptly named because the bulk of the story takes place in an unnamed country, presumably Eastern Europe, that is under threat of military turmoil, and where the language is not understood by the characters in the film. There are only something like 34 exchanges of dialog in the film, and Bergman later said he wished he could have reduced it to 28. The number of people who saw the film in theaters was probably greater than any other Bergman film because of the sexuality in it, including lovemaking in a theater, masturbation, and an explicit hookup in a hotel room. None of the scenes would cause a problem today, but it was banned in France for a time, and only made it into Germany with some cuts in the film.
There are three primary characters -- two sisters and the young son of one of them. Ester is the older sister who is professionally a translator, and is quite stiff and formal. She is an alcoholic and is seriously ill. Anna is the sensual younger sister who used to admire her sister, but now despises her. One commentator called them the yin and yang of the human personality. Johan is Anna's son aged about 10. He is an observer throughout the film and seem to represent the survival of innocence. These are the only people we know by name. There is also a waiter who is the hookup partner of Anna, and the hotel porter who for me seems to play the role of God in the film -- he tries to be helpful to Ester in her illness, but can't understand her and in the end leaves her and closes the door as she is dying.
Most of the action takes place in an old hotel. There are so many symbolic images throughout the film that I had little notion of how to understand them. These include an old man, donkey and overloaded cart that pass on the street outside their window two times. There is a tank that passes in the middle of the night. There are Anna's bracelets that are fingered multiple times by various people. There are the streets full of men, but no women. There is the Ruben-style painting that resurfaces several times. There are the seven dwarfs who are performing in a nearby show and seem to be the only other guests in the hotel. One could go on.
I'm not sure what to do with this film; I don't think it will be on the list to watch again in future.
There are three primary characters -- two sisters and the young son of one of them. Ester is the older sister who is professionally a translator, and is quite stiff and formal. She is an alcoholic and is seriously ill. Anna is the sensual younger sister who used to admire her sister, but now despises her. One commentator called them the yin and yang of the human personality. Johan is Anna's son aged about 10. He is an observer throughout the film and seem to represent the survival of innocence. These are the only people we know by name. There is also a waiter who is the hookup partner of Anna, and the hotel porter who for me seems to play the role of God in the film -- he tries to be helpful to Ester in her illness, but can't understand her and in the end leaves her and closes the door as she is dying.
Most of the action takes place in an old hotel. There are so many symbolic images throughout the film that I had little notion of how to understand them. These include an old man, donkey and overloaded cart that pass on the street outside their window two times. There is a tank that passes in the middle of the night. There are Anna's bracelets that are fingered multiple times by various people. There are the streets full of men, but no women. There is the Ruben-style painting that resurfaces several times. There are the seven dwarfs who are performing in a nearby show and seem to be the only other guests in the hotel. One could go on.
I'm not sure what to do with this film; I don't think it will be on the list to watch again in future.