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By DREW NEWTON
Ingmar Bergman directed a
romantic comedy when he filmed "Smiles of a Summer
Night" that is as playful as Shakespeare's "A
Midsummer Nights Dream." Set in a small-scale
backdrop of Renoir's "Rules of the Game," it is a
unique piece full of intrigue as it revolves
around a small number of characters at the turn of
the century in a small Swedish town.
Fredrik Egerman (Gunnar Björnstrand), a successful
middle-aged lawyer and former widower, has
remarried with Anne (Ulla Jacobsson) who is at
least twenty years his younger. Fredrik's son,
Henrik (Björn Bjelfvenstam), from his previous
marriage, is of the same age as Anne and has
recently arrived home after completing his
theological studies. Petra, the family maid,
flirts with Henrik as he expresses his liking for
the opposite sex. As a consequence, Henrik is
struggling with an overwhelming inner guilt
originating from his inability to live by the
lofty values stemming from his Christian faith. In
addition, the prominent actress Desiree Armfeldt
(Eva Dahlbeck), a previous lover to Fredrik, is
performing at the town theater. Fredrik makes
nightly visit to Desiree which puts him in harm's
way as Desiree's current lover, Carl Magnus (Jarl
Kulle), a military officer known for his success
in duels visits at the same time. However, this is
just the beginning for all the predicaments
Fredrik will find himself in.
"Smiles of a Summer Night" is well written, with
several subplots that drive its main themes and
displays Bergman's wide range as the director
takes a simple story and crates a web of
complexity through the characters' dishonesty. It
is the profound level of constant deceitfulness in
the story that produces the intrigue and brings
about the comedy. As the final scene fades away,
the audience has gone through a first class
cinematic experience that will lighten and
enlighten.
A new digital transfer, with restored image and
audio and new subtitle translation, looks and
sounds great. Extra features include a video
introduction to the film by Bergman, a video
conversation with film historian Peter Cowie and
writer Jorn Donner, the original Swedish
theatrical trailer, and a 24-page booklet with an
essay by the late, influential film critic Pauline
Kael and theater and film critic John Simon,
author of "Ingmar Bergman Directs." |
