The Eclipse Viewer - Episode 14 - Early Bergman [Part 2]

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This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor conclude their conversation about Eclipse Series 1: Early Bergman, a collection of five films that helped Ingmar Bergman establish one of the richest bodies of work in 20th century cinema.

About the films:

Before The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries established him as one of the great masters of cinema, Ingmar Bergman created a series of devastating but less well-known psychological character studies, marked by intricate, layered narratives, gritty environments, and haunting visuals. These early films, which show the stirrings of the genius to come, remain the hidden treasures of a European cinema on the cusp of a golden age.

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Timeline for the podcast:

Introduction/Background (00:00:01 – 00:09:14)

Thirst (00:09:15 – 00:39:00)

To Joy (00:39:01 – 01:18:45)

Conclusion (01:18:46 – 01:46:22)

Buy The Box Set On Amazon:

Episode Links:

Director Overview:

Ingmar Bergman in The Criterion Collection
Career overview in The Guardian by Joe Queenan
The Private World of Ingmar Bergman in W Magazine by Diane Solway
Breaking Down Bergman, an ongoing, comprehensive series of video reviews on YouTube

Thirst:

David’s Journey Through the Eclipse Series review
Can’t Stop the Movies review by Andrew Hathaway
Breaking Down Bergman video review by David Friend and Sonia Strimban
The Film Sufi review
… and the title of that Alfred Hitchcock film, when Trevor graciously edited out my stammering attempts to recall it on the spot, is Spellbound.

To Joy:

David’s Journey Through the Eclipse Series review
Can’t Stop the Movies review by Andrew Hathaway
Breaking Down Bergman video review by David Friend and Sonia Strimban
Phipps Film review by Grant Phipps

Next time on the podcast: Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System

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Email: theeclipseviewer (at) gmail.com
David Blakeslee ( Twitter / Website )
Trevor Berrett ( Twitter / Website )

2 comments

Lars says:

April 10, 2014 at 10:07 am

Really enjoyed these two episodes! Interesting to hear your views on Hets (Torment). In Sweden it`s considered still as a classic, especially Stig Järrels performance as Caligula.

Note also that Stig Olin (in “To Joy”) is the father of actress Lena Olin, who acted with Erland Josephson in Bergman’s “After the Rehearsal” (1984).

Keep up the good work!

Lars, Sweden
DaveBlakeslee says:

April 21, 2014 at 4:13 pm

Thank you Lars for that perspective! I enjoy learning a bit more about how these old films are regarded in their country of origin – and I agree, the Caligula character is very memorable, Järrels’ portrayal was quite effective! I should have mentioned the connection to Lena Olin, who may be most familiar to Criterion fans for her role as Sabina in The Unbearable Lightness of Being. She’s also married to Lasse Hallstrom, who directed My Life as a Dog, among many other (non-Criterion) films, and most of ABBA’s promo videos! :)

The Eclipse Viewer – Episode 14 – Early Bergman [Part 2]

David Blakeslee

2 comments

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