Waiting Women (1952)

The four wives of four brothers share stories of their marriages as they each wait for their husbands in a small, secluded cottage.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writers:

Ingmar Bergman, Gun Grut (story)

Stars:

Anita Björk, Eva Dahlbeck, Maj-Britt Nilsson

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anita Björk	...	Rakel
Eva Dahlbeck	...	Karin
Maj-Britt Nilsson	...	Marta
Birger Malmsten	...	Martin Lobelius
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Fredrik Lobelius
Karl-Arne Holmsten	...	Eugen Lobelius
Jarl Kulle	...	Kaj
Aino Taube	...	Annette (as Aino Taube-Henrikson)
Håkan Westergren	...	Paul Lobelius
Gerd Andersson	...	Maj
Björn Bjelfvenstam	...	Henrik Lobelius (as Björn Bjelvenstam)

Storyline

Rakel, Marta, Karin and Annette are married to four brothers. While waiting in a summer cottage for their husbands to come home, they tell each other stories about their marriages. Rakel tells about the time she had an affair and confronted her husband with it. Marta's story is about how she at first refused to marry and had her child by herself. Karin tells about what happened when one time she and her husband got stuck in an elevator together. While the women tell their stories, Marta's younger sister Maj is planning to elope.

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Plot Keywords:

unfaithfulness | flashback | episodic structure | unhappiness | sister in law | 

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Taglines:

The love affairs of three women - marital...premarital...and one marvelous surprise!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish French

Release Date:

11 July 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Secrets of Women

Filming Locations:

Sacré-Coeur, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Fredrik Lobelius: Don't look like you think I'm going to seduce you.
Maj: Seduce? You? Me?
[laughs]
Maj: I'd like to see that.
[Kaj kisses Rakel]
Maj: You're not at all shameless.
Fredrik Lobelius: You're just like when we were kids. You're just as soft and indulgent. Just as pretty and fragrant. And just as flushed and irritated afterwards.

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Connections

Featured in Stjärnbilder (1995)

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Soundtracks

Farsans hambo
Composed by Carl Jularbo

User Reviews

Both Poignant and Sad at Times

Four women await their husbands/lovers and tell stories of their early encounters with these men. I won't go through the plot but suffice it to say that there is selfishness, self- loathing, sacrifice, and even some empty headed joy. One story tells of a spiteful woman and her boring husband. A childhood lover comes while he is gone and has tryst with her. She tells her husband and this leads to some soul searching. The second is an encounter with an artist that leads to a child being born and his self-centered departure. The third is a couple, married for several years, trapped on an elevator, giving what they say is an honest view of one another. The fourth has arranged to run off with her boyfriend, leaving the family behind. This may sound a bit vapid, but it is done with a master's touch, with the artistry that is Bergman. Every bit of cinema is framed and filled with emotion.