Autumn Sonata (1978)

A married daughter who longs for her mother's love is visited by the latter, a successful concert pianist.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Stars:

Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Lena Nyman

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ingrid Bergman	...	Charlotte Andergast
Liv Ullmann	...	Eva
Lena Nyman	...	Helena
Halvar Björk	...	Viktor
Marianne Aminoff	...	Charlotte's private secretary
Arne Bang-Hansen	...	Uncle Otto
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Paul
Erland Josephson	...	Josef
Georg Løkkeberg	...	Leonardo
Mimi Pollak	...	Piano instructor
Linn Ullmann	...	Eva as a child

Storyline

After having neglected her children for many years, world famous pianist Charlotte visits her daughter Eva in her home. To her surprise she finds her other daughter, Helena, there as well. Helena is mentally disabled, and Eva has taken Helena out of the institution where their mother had placed her. The tension between Charlotte and Eva only builds up slowly, until a nightly conversation releases all the things they have wanted to tell each other.

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Plot Keywords:

pianist | child neglect | dysfunctional family | mother daughter estrangement | mother daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Sweden France West Germany UK

Language:

Swedish English

Release Date:

18 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Autumn Sonata

Filming Locations:

Jar, Norway

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$998,053

Company Credits

Production Co:

Personafilm,Filmédis,Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #60.

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Goofs

In the dialogue scene where Charlotte is lying on the floor and Eva is sitting on the sofa behind her, the shadow of the boom mic is visible on the curtains when the camera pans to Eva for a few seconds.

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Quotes

Eva: But one thing I did understand: not a shred of the real me could be loved or accepted. I didn't dare to be myself even when I was alone because I hated what was my own.

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Connections

Featured in ...Men filmen är min älskarinna (2010)

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Soundtracks

Préludium Nr 2a, a-moll
Written by Frédéric Chopin (as Chopin)
Performed by Käbi Laretei

User Reviews

"Human Face Has to Mean Something":

This is a beautiful and devastating film that I admire, love and am connected to. This was the first Liv Ullmann's film I've seen and the first Bergman's color film. It is considered to be Ingrid Bergman's film and she is phenomenal as a talented and world renowned pianist who had never been a good mother to her two daughters. It is much easier to make the whole world happy then your own child. One can be a brilliant artist and read the minds of the other great minds easily but the hearts and souls of one's own blood and flesh would be the unsolved mystery. I think the film was very personal for both Bergmans in their only work together. It is amazing how bravely they explore the themes and events that could've (and did) occurred in their own lives. For me, though, the film belongs to Liv Ullmann, the greatest actress I've seen, the best Ingmar Bergman's actress.

I was riveted to Liv's face; I'd never seen the face like hers. She played a plain daughter to the brilliant mother and she was supposed to look and feel awkward and gawky comparing to her mother but her face was like a magnet, her eyes - like two deep blue lakes. If ever the saying, the eyes are the soul's mirror, is true, it is about Liv's eyes. There are kindness, tenderness, strength, and something even more attractive than beauty itself in them - the goodness of her soul. Dostoyevsky said once that human face has to mean something - I always think of his words when I see performance of my favorite actress ever -Liv Ullmann.