Edited together (with partly new material) from a documentary series, this film examines (in chronological order) the career and films of Ingmar Bergman through the eyes of numerous prominent filmmakers and actors who have been more or less touched by the Master’s work. Some of them also visit the stark island in Sweden where Bergman spent most of his life, often in isolation. Watching them behave like starstruck tourists in awe of “the great genius” is amusing. It becomes more profound as they get into the actual films and their meaning. Packed with great clips from Bergman movies, and colorful comments (especially from eternal provocateur Lars von Trier), the film may be primarily for cineastes, but the themes are obviously universal.
2014-Sweden. 107 min. Color. Produced by Linda Costigan, Fatima Varhos. Directed by Jane Magnusson, Hynek Pallas. Featuring Michael Haneke, Martin Scorsese, Lars von Trier, Robert De Niro, John Landis, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ang Lee, Isabella Rossellini, Wes Anderson, Harriet Andersson, Zhang Yimou, Woody Allen, Laura Dern, Francis Ford Coppola, Takeshi Kitano, Wes Craven, Alexander Payne, Holly Hunter, Ridley Scott, Thomas Vinterberg, Claire Denis, Daniel Espinosa, Tomas Alfredson, Mona Malm, Pernilla August.
