Eva (1948)

During WW2 in neutral Sweden, young sailor Bo, son of a railway stationmaster, comes home from the Navy and reminisces a childhood accident. At age twelve, he ran away in a steam locomotive... See full summary »

Director:

Gustaf Molander

Writers:

Ingmar Bergman (screenplay), Gustaf Molander (scenario)

Stars:

Birger Malmsten, Eva Stiberg, Eva Dahlbeck

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Birger Malmsten	...	Bo
Eva Stiberg	...	Eva
Eva Dahlbeck	...	Susanne
Åke Claesson	...	Fredriksson
Wanda Rothgardt	...	Mrs. Fredriksson (as Vanda Rothgardt)
Hilda Borgström	...	Maria
Stig Olin	...	Göran
Inga Landgré	...	Frida
Olof Sandborg	...	Berglund
Carl Ström	...	Johansson
Sture Ericson	...	Josef Friedel (as Sture Eriksson)
Lasse Sarri	...	Bo - Age 12
Anne Carlsson	...	Marthe
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Josua Bengtson	...	Mr. Kvarnström (scenes deleted)

Storyline

During WW2 in neutral Sweden, young sailor Bo, son of a railway stationmaster, comes home from the Navy and reminisces a childhood accident. At age twelve, he ran away in a steam locomotive together with a blind 10-year-old girl. The engine derailed, and the little girl got killed. Feelings of guilt haunt Bo even in his courtship with Eva, a beautiful local girl. In Stockholm, Bo sees a nightmare about plotting to kill his roommate Göran together with Göran's flirtatious girlfriend Susanne. In a third act, Eva and Bo are married and living on a remote island off Stockholm. When it's time to give birth, Bo has to row the stormy seas and fears again that he will cause another death.

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Plot Keywords:

nightmare | forename as title | based on short story | faith | childhood trauma | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

26 December 1948 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Mulher e a Tentação

Filming Locations:

Bogesund, Vaxholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa # 33055.

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Goofs

In the drunken scene Bo incinerates the bottom part of the torn picture of Eva. The next morning sees the picture intact.

User Reviews

Preoccupation with Death

One can see Bergman getting his angst ridden feet on the ground in this early work. He tells the story of Bo, a young man home on leave, who is looking back on his childhood. He is the twelve year old son of a stationmaster, and he has knowledge of the local steam engine. He has driven it, but only with a young man who knows the ropes. He has turned into a full blown brat who feels that any limitations on his wishes are dealt with in anger. He expresses hatred toward his father who is basically doing what father's do. His mother is doting and allows this behavior. One day, after an argument with his father where he is incredibly disrespectful, he runs off. He meets a group of traveling musicians and the blind daughter of one of them. His hatred of adults continues and he talks the little girl into taking off with him. They get on the train engine and, without permission, he starts it and heads down the track. A group of railroad workers are repairing the track and the engine goes down an embankment. He is injured slightly, but the little girl is killed. He carries this with him. His father slaps him over and over and his mother comforts him.

He has become a very talented trumpet player. Upon his return to his home (where his family, including his father, show kindness toward him) he reconnects with Eva, a pretty young woman who has grown to up since he left. She lives with her Grandma and Grandpa, who is near death. The two watch as the old lady attends to her husband. Once again the mysteries of death are confronted. Bo feels again the overwhelming weight of the unknown. Eva is positive and is more down to earth. The two have a tryst and swear their love to one another. But he still carries the guilt of the childhood event and has trouble.

Cutting to the city where Bo is living with a fellow bad member and his loose girlfriend, he is propositioned by her. They use him as a plaything, even making it look like he murdered his friend. He escapes when Eva shows up.

This leads to a final scene where Bergman puts his characters to the test. It's a ragged, but captivating film.