Gynecologist David Erneman (Gunnar Björnstrand) and his wife (Eva Dahlbeck) have both cheated on each other, but he intends to woo her back on a visit to Copenhagen. The first in a series of three films from director Ingmar Bergman; this one, Smiles of a Summer Night and Dreams were all lighthearted comedies about the little games lovers engage in. The story has the characters discussing their flaws in a very openhearted way, which seemed to bother critics at the time who expected no serious issues whatsoever from this film… but in any case, the wittiness of the dialogue goes a long way. Björnstrand and Dahlbeck make a hilarious couple; their marriage looks like it comes with a barrel of laughs, spiked with a caustic touch… and that’s how the movie itself should be described.
1954-Sweden. 96 min. B/W. Produced by Allan Ekelund. Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Cast: Gunnar Björnstrand (David Erneman), Eva Dahlbeck (Marianne Erneman), Åke Grönberg (Carl-Adam), Harriet Andersson, Olof Winnerstrand, Renée Björling… Yvonne Lombard, John Elfström, Dagmar Ebbesen, Sigge Fürst, Gösta Prüzelius, Keve Hjelm.
Trivia: Original title: En lektion i kärlek.
Last word: “There was something fateful about the meeting between the three of us: me, Eva, and Gunnar. Both of them were talented and creative actors. They felt inmediately that although I had perhaps not yet written a spectacular text, the collaboration offered them great opportunities. On my part I was panic-stricken as I attempted for the first time to make a comedy. With overt confidence in me and great tact, they taught me how I should go about it.” (Bergman, IngmarBergman.com)
