Cries & Whispers (1972)
"Viskningar och rop" (original title)

When a woman dying of cancer in turn-of-the century Sweden is visited by her two sisters, long repressed feelings between the siblings rise to the surface.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Stars:

Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin

Won 1 Oscar. Another 24 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Harriet Andersson	...	Agnes
Kari Sylwan	...	Anna
Ingrid Thulin	...	Karin
Liv Ullmann	...	Maria (and her mother)
Anders Ek	...	Isak, the priest
Inga Gill	...	Story teller
Erland Josephson	...	David, the doctor
Henning Moritzen	...	Joakim, Maria's husband
Georg Årlin	...	Fredrik, Karin's husband

Storyline

In turn-of-the-century Sweden, cancer-stricken, dying Agnes is visited in her isolated rural mansion by her sisters Karin and Maria. As Agnes' condition deteriorates and pain management becomes increasingly more difficult, fear and revulsion grip the sisters, who seem incapable of empathy, and Agnes' only comfort and solace comes from her maid Anna. As the end draws closer, long repressed feelings of grudging resentment and mistrust cause jealousy, selfishness, and bitterness between the siblings to surface.

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Plot Keywords:

mansion | turn of the century | dying | jealousy | pain | 

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Taglines:

A haunting and shattering film experience.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish German Danish

Release Date:

5 March 1973 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Cries and Whispers

Filming Locations:

Taxinge-Näsby estate, Mariefred, Södermanlands län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinematograph AB, Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ingmar Bergman explained the use of the color red in this film: "'Cries and Whispers' is an exploration of the soul, and ever since childhood, I have imagined the soul to be a damp membrane in varying shades of red."

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Quotes

David: Come over here Maria. Look at yourself in the mirror. You are beautiful... but you have changed. These days you cast rapid, calculating, sidelong glances. You're gaze used to be direct, open, and without any disguise. Your mouth is an expression of discontent and hunger. It used only to be soft. Your complexion has become pallid, you use make-up. Your fine, broad forehead now has four creases above each eyebrow... And this fine contour from the ear to the chin... it's no longer quite so evident...

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Connections

Referenced in Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Suite No. 5 for solo Cello in C Minor, 4th mvt 'Sarabande'"
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Played by Pierre Fournier

User Reviews

Red

The color red holds so many facets of symbolism in this picture. If you've seen Woody Allen's "Manhattan", then you may remember when he called Ingmar Bergman the only person he could truly consider to be a cinematic genius. Like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bergman digs deep into the human psyche... only he does it cinematically, which is an even greater achievement. This is just one of those rare, important films. *****/*****