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:

eastern europe | unfaithfulness | flashback | episodic structure | unhappiness | 

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Taglines:

INGMAR BERGMAN revels with much insight in a quartet...the loves...and the "Secrets of Women"

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

Karin: Can't I sit on you lap?
Fredrik Lobelius: That too?
Karin: Fifteen years ago you'd have been lucky to sit like this with me.
Fredrik Lobelius: Don't be silly. Fifteen years ago you weighed less.
Karin: You're no Adonis yourself.

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Connections

Featured in Stjärnbilder (1995)

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Soundtracks

Farsans hambo
Composed by Carl Jularbo

User Reviews

very good early Bergman

While this movie was not exactly earth-shaking, it was a well-made film that held my attention. It's about 4 lady friends who are waiting for their husbands to meet them at their summer retreat. While waiting, they begin to tell their innermost secrets about their marriages--particularly the details of boredom or infidelity. The most memorable one of these is the final segment with the husband and wife stuck in the elevator, though they all were well acted and interesting. Those who are great fans of the later depressing work of Bergman may find this movie a bit of a letdown, it should appeal to those in the audience who want greater depth in the plot without the hopelessness that accompanies many later Bergman films.

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