Ingmar Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night" is a charming comedy (in its way) about love and romance. Here, everyone is in love, but with the wrong person. Fredrik Egerman (Gunnar Bjornstrand) is married to a much younger Anne (Ulla Jacobsson) who remains a virgin. Fredrik's grown son, Henrik (Bjorn Bjelvenstam) is a minister and in love with Anne; Desiree Armfeldt (Eva Dahlback) is having an affair with Count Carl-Magnus (Jarl Kulle), but she's still got it bad for her ex-lover, the aforementioned Fredrik. Carl-Magnus' wife, Charlotte (Margit Carlquist) still loves her husband. And Petra (Hariett Andersson), the maid, likes having sex.
And so it goes in this game of musical beds, attempted suicide, beds that come through the wall, a roll in the hay, and a carriage escape by night. The performances are delightful, particular from Eva Dahlbeck, whose Desiree has been around the block, and Ulla Jacobsson, who gives Anne a wonderful childlike quality. As the bereft minister, Bjorn Bjelvenstam plays it straight, making his misery all the funnier.
The women in this film are absolutely beautiful, as is the cinematography. The starkness of the black and white images is quite stunning, and the landscape shots look like famous photographs.
This is different from many Bergman films that were to come, and it's a lovely reminder that this man could do anything he set his mind to, including send in the clowns.
And so it goes in this game of musical beds, attempted suicide, beds that come through the wall, a roll in the hay, and a carriage escape by night. The performances are delightful, particular from Eva Dahlbeck, whose Desiree has been around the block, and Ulla Jacobsson, who gives Anne a wonderful childlike quality. As the bereft minister, Bjorn Bjelvenstam plays it straight, making his misery all the funnier.
The women in this film are absolutely beautiful, as is the cinematography. The starkness of the black and white images is quite stunning, and the landscape shots look like famous photographs.
This is different from many Bergman films that were to come, and it's a lovely reminder that this man could do anything he set his mind to, including send in the clowns.