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:

woman | pianist | marriage | child neglect | dysfunctional family | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France West Germany Sweden UK

Language:

Swedish English

Release Date:

18 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Autumn Sonata

Filming Locations:

Jar, Norway

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

The "drivel" novel (by Adam Kretzinsky) that Charlotte reads has a picture of Ingmar Bergman on the back.

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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

Charlotte Andergast: Sometimes, when I lie awake at night, I wonder whether I've lived at all. Is it the same for everybody? Do some people have a greater talent for living than others or do some people never live, but just exist?

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Connections

Featured in Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words (2015)

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Soundtracks

Sonat F-dur, Opus 1
Written by George Frideric Handel (as Händel)
Performed by Frans Brüggen, Gustav Leonhardt and Anner Bylsma

User Reviews

A tremendous film but it left me feeling wrung-out.

The acting of Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ulmann is absolutely spell binding and while Katherine Hepburn may have been accused of portraying the emotions for A to B there is no doubt that these two actors can portray the emotions from A to Z and beyond. When I watch a film in a foreign language I find myself studying facial expressions and body language very closely, not surprisingly as, with the lack of understanding I am more dependant of visual cues. However such scrutiny often uncovers failings and weaknesses – not here.

The cinematography id also first class, the colours, tones and lighting are all superb and enhance, never detract.

This is only the second of Bergman's films I have seen (the first being Fanny and Alexander) and what I have noticed is that while many films give to the viewer and I feel as if the emotions are a natural response, I felt with the Bergman films, particularly this one, as if the films have taken something out of me, as if the emotions have been extracted against my will. This may sound over the top and rather florid but is a genuine statement. I also have to say that what the two films have in common is that they were both spellbinding and like a good book that just can't be put down, the films gripped me and wouldn't let go even for a minute.