Thirst (1949)
"Törst" (original title)

A needy couple in a bad marriage travel back to Stockholm after a trip to Italy. Meanwhile, a widow resists seductions from two different persons - her psychiatrist and a lesbian friend.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writers:

Herbert Grevenius, Birgit Tengroth (novel)

Stars:

Eva Henning, Birger Malmsten, Birgit Tengroth

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eva Henning	...	Rut
Birger Malmsten	...	Bertil
Birgit Tengroth	...	Viola
Hasse Ekman	...	Dr. Rosengren
Mimi Nelson	...	Valborg (as Mimmi Nelson)
Bengt Eklund	...	Raoul
Gaby Stenberg	...	Astrid
Naima Wifstrand	...	Miss Henriksson

Storyline

In 1946, nervous ballet dancer Rut and her husband Bertil are returning to Sweden from his scholarship tour around Italy. In a Basle hotel room and on a train they quarrel; give food through the window to starving Germans; overhear wisdoms about marriage by Swedish clergymen returning from a conference; and finally make up. In flashbacks, Rut reminisces her romance with middle-aged officer Raoul, her subsequent abortion, and her ballet career. In a seemingly separate episode set in quiet Stockholm during Midsummer, middle-aged widow Viola is harassed first by a psychiatrist, Dr. Rosengren, and then by a lesbian old school-friend Valborg, with tragic consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | lesbian | abortion | ballet | marriage | 

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Taglines:

The film that dares explore the secrets of a woman's love-starved soul!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish German

Release Date:

11 July 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thirst

Filming Locations:

Hamburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (AGA Baltic)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Non più andrai"
(uncredited)
from "Le nozze di Figaro"
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Swedish Lyrics by Bernhard Crusell
Sung by Bengt Eklund

User Reviews

Very interesting early Bergman movie

True, the movie has got a few flaws, mostly in the construction; the structure lacks necessity and the flashbacks appear a bit randomly, it seems. However, the essential Bergman is already present (it's 1949): a few absolutely superb close-ups on the main characters' faces, the way people suddenly appear on camera, from unexpected angles, etc. And Bergman is already displaying some of the themes he will use constantly : the train travel, war and ruins as a background for difficult relationships, plus of course the impossibility and at the same time the inevitability of the relationship between man and woman : it's doomed, but there's no other way... In fact, the French title is "La fontaine d'Aréthuse", which points to this very idea. Precisely, I'd like to discuss another point : the original title is "Thirst". And in fact, people in the movie drink a lot : wine, beer, milk, or fail to drink : in a dramatic moment, one character refuses to drink coffee, tea is prepared, but doesn't taste good. I believe people never drink water, but water (the sea) is the backdrop for the happiest moment of the movie and the most desperate (with the suggestion of a suicide). For Bergman, I believe, Man is essentially thirsty, is desperately thirsty for something to calm and comfort him. But the world is hostile, relationships can offer only brief moments of satisfaction on a backdrop of tension and pain. Other comments on this title ? Very interesting movie overall.