The Rite (1969) (TV) Riten (original title)

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Release Date:

18 September 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A judge in an unnamed country interviews three actors, together and singly, provoking them while investigating...

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Epilepsy | One Word Title | Theatrical Troupe | Interrogation

Cast

Ingrid Thulin	...	Thea Winkelmann
Anders Ek	...	Sebastian Fisher
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Hans Winkelmann
Erik Hell	...	Judge Dr. Abrahamson
Ingmar Bergman	...	Priest

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman

Produced by
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	producer

Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Siv Lundgren		(as Siv Kanälv)

Production Design by
Mago

Costume Design by
Mago

Makeup Department
Cecilia Drott	....	assistant makeup artist
Börje Lundh	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lennart Blomkvist	....	unit manager
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anders Lönnbro	....	assistant director (as Christer Dahl)

Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman	....	property master

Sound Department
Lennart Engholm	....	sound
Berndt Frithiof	....	sound
Olle Jacobsson	....	sound mixer (as Olle Jakobsson)
Nils Skeppstedt	....	sound effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Rolf Holmquist	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Birgitta Särnö	....	script girl

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
• Personafilm
• Cinematograph AB

Distributors

• Janus Films (USA) (subtitled)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• FilmTeknik  film lab

Also Known As:

"Riten" - Sweden (original title)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Svensk Filmindustri, Filmstaden, Råsunda, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Quotes:

Hans Winkelmann:Isn't it better to have insecurity with small artificial islands of security? It agrees better with the real state of affairs than the other way round.

My brief review of the film

An intriguing sexually explicit and frank film about a number of different things, ranging from anti-censorship sentiments to neuroses, it is well directed by Ingmar Bergman, shot from interesting angles and making good use of close-ups, but still it is far off the level of Bergman's best work. The ideas are a bit all over the place and the film is too talkative for it to have much chance of establishing atmosphere. The events of the final ten or so minutes are contrived too, particularly concerning the main character. Either way, it makes an interesting enough watch, and if not for its cinematic virtues, at least for giving an idea of the very adult stuff allowed on Swedish television in 1969! Worthwhile for Bergman fans; others might want to try out a few of his other films before giving this a go.