Barabbas (1953)

The story about the thief who didn't get crucified because Jesus was choosen to take his place.

Director:

Alf Sjöberg

Writers:

Pär Lagerkvist (novel), Alf Sjöberg

Stars:

Lissi Alandh, Tor Bergner, Lillemor Biörnstad

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lissi Alandh	...	Prostitute
Tor Bergner	...	Soldier at Jerusalem prison
Lillemor Biörnstad	...	Christian in prison at Rome
John W. Björling	...	Scribe at temple
Hugo Björne	...	Leper at Death Valley
Mats Björne	...	Member of Barabbas' gang
Helga Brofeldt	...	Mother of hare-lipped
Martha Colliander	...	Christian in prison at Rome
Eva Dahlbeck	...	The Mother
Gregor Dahlman	...	Worker in pottery
Elisabeth Dejou	...	Woman at Christian meeting
Carl Ericson	...	Christian in prison at Rome
Sture Ericson	...	Father of hare-lipped
Albin Erlandzon	...	Old man discussing with Petrus
John Fischer	...	Soldier at Jerusalem prison

Storyline

The story about the thief who didn't get crucified because Jesus was choosen to take his place.

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Plot Keywords:

1st century | ancient rome | religion | barabbas | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

5 May 1953 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Barabasz

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sandrews

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min 123 min (original release) 119 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Ljuset håller mig sällskap (2000)

User Reviews

Major Swedish production.

Apparently suppressed to legitimized the De Laurentis-Anthony Quinn movie drawn from the same Pär Lagerkvist novel, this Swedish master piece comes in a run of outstanding films which made Sjöberg one of the great film makers. Unfortunately, like contemporaries Pietro Germi or Helmut Kaütner his work was not highlighted by critics (which tells you something about the process) and Sjöberg was totally overshadowed by Ingmar Bergman, with whom his career was interlaced. Bergman wrote some of the Sjöberg films. They later alternated National Theatre productions.

BARABBAS is one of Sjöberg's best and most daring productions. Though realized on a small scale, it manages to get through all the extreme material of the Biblical spectacles of the day - violent sex, lepers, the killing of the prosecutor while the woman is stoned, messy crucifixions. It has a realism in it's costuming and staging (the brothel sequence is particularly savage) and great performances - notably by Palme, the director's regular leading man.

With this, the film puts forward a complex argument, centering on the simple minded thief's trying to comprehend Christ, along with a striking structure where light changes indicated passing of time and the same shot represents different occasions.

Two great cameramen contribute.