Year: 1951
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
In 1957 Ingmar Bergman became an international sensation with his film The Seventh Seal, which in time inspired Woody Allen to become a director and make classics like Manhattan, Annie Hall and Midnight in Paris. What about Bergman's pre-Seventh Seal films? Are they any good? This review will be about Summer Interlude, a film I avoided until yesterday because I had an assumption that it would be a mediocre Bergman film, but I can happily admit that I was wrong.
Summer Interlude stars Maj-Brit Nillson as Marie. a lonely twenty-eight year-old ballerina. While waiting for a rehearsal of Swan Lake she receives a diary in the mail. She then travels to an island near Stockholm and recalls her first love Henrik (Birger Malmsten) Thirteen years ago, while traveling to spend her summer with her aunt and uncle she meets her first love. Unfortunately tragedy separates them.
Bergman's talent shines in this film and it is very clear that he will be a household-like name less than a decade after this film is made. It is profoundly stimulating, the film is a subtle flashback that explains why Marie has put up walls in regards to her current relationships. Perhaps this plot device, the flashback to happier times, is over-used in modern romantic films but seeing it in a Bergman film is breathtaking. The innocence of both Maria & Henrik (in the flashbacks) is shown beautifully. Bergman's famous close-ups show heartwarming smiles and a love that may be somewhat superficial, but is still incredibly well captured.
Bergman has themes of religious doubt in this film, Marie asks why God is never around in her times of need, but it isn't too complicated of a film in that regard which is why it's likely a great started film for anybody who is interested in watching a Bergman film. The cinematography is well done, it captures the essence of love, Summer, life, death & tragedy. There is a lot of incredible foreshadowing that may only be noticeable during the 2nd or 3rd viewing of this film.
In conclusion, this review may not have given Summer Interlude justice mainly because I have only seen it once. Though I was astonished from my first impression, Bergman does doomed romance well. I'm convinced he could make any film into a brilliant work of art as he has done with Summer Interlude. Praise it! 5/5
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