Credited cast: | |||
Signe Hasso | ... | Vera Irmelin | |
Alf Kjellin | ... | Björn Almkvist | |
Ulf Palme | ... | Atkä Natas | |
Gösta Cederlund | ... | The Country Doctor | |
Yngve Nordwall | ... | Lindell (as Yngve Nordvall) | |
Stig Olin | ... | The Young Man / narrator | |
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Ragnar Klange | ... | Filip Rundblom |
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Hannu Kompus | ... | TheRefugees Priest |
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Sylvia Täl | ... | Vanja |
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Els Vårman | ... | Refugee |
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Edmar Kuus | ... | Leino a.k.a Sander |
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Rudy Lipp | ... | Skuggan (The Shadow) (as Rudolf Lipp) |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Gunwer Bergkvist | ... | Bit | |
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Harald Björling | ... | Bit |
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Sten Hansson | ... | Bit |
Atka Natas is a secret agent from the oppressive regime of Liquidatzia. He visits his estranged wife Vera, a chemist who is involved with a group of exiles trying to smuggle their compatriots out of Liquidatzia. Almkvist, an honest local policeman and former lover of Vera's, contacts her while investigating the death of one of the refugees. Natas has a list of agents operating in the host country and wants to sell them to the Americans. However before he can do so, Vera tries to kill him, after an argument about getting her parents out of Liquidatzia. Written by Will Gilbert
This film is essentially Bergman does Hitchcock (in the mood of, say, "Foreign Correspondent," but darker . . . and yet with some moments of delightful humor). Bergman is making jabs here at the expected complacency of Swedish society in a situation in which malevolent foreign-based movements would be afoot. Beautifully photographed, and with splendid acting, this film is insightful, taut, intelligent, thought-provoking, and--to sum things up--most enjoyable, with no longueurs, no holes in the plot. Though for some reason Bergman himself ultimately didn't like it, that's no reason for this entertaining and enriching film to be unavailable. If you can find a screening, don't hesitate to partake of it!