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critics consensus

Fleet and joyous, Ingmar Bergman's filmed staging of Mozart's The Magic Flute captures the opera's mirth and satire with Scandinavian flair. Read critic reviews

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The Magic Flute Photos

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Movie Info

The Queen of the Night enlists a handsome prince named Tamino (Josef Köstlinger) to rescue her beautiful kidnapped daughter, Princess Pamina (Irma Urrila), in this screen adaptation of the beloved Mozart opera. Aided by the lovelorn bird hunter Papageno and a magical flute that holds the power to change the hearts of men, young Tamino embarks on a quest for true love, leading to the evil Sarastro's (Ulrik Cold) temple where Pamina is held captive.
  • Rating:
    G
  • Genre:
    musical
  • Original Language:
    Swedish
  • Director:
    Ingmar Bergman
  • Writer:
    Ingmar Bergman
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Sveriges Radio

Cast & Crew

Ulrik Cold
Sarastro
Josef Köstlinger
Tamino
Irma Urrila
Pamina
Erik Saedén
Talaren
Birgit Nordin
Nattens Drottning
Håkan Hagegård
Papageno
Elisabeth Erikson
Papagena
Britt Marie Aruhn
Första damen (First Lady)
Kirsten Vaupel
Andra damen (Second Lady)
Birgitta Smiding
Tredje damen (Third Lady)
Ingmar Bergman
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Writer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Magic Flute

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (2)

  • While the Mozart purist may take issue with Bergman's conception of The Magic Flute, no one can deny the technical perfection with which the film has been mounted.

    July 11, 2018 | Full Review…

    Peter Cowie

    Sight & Sound

  • Ingmar Bergman has never before made a movie so warm, happy and innocent... It's as if all this joy has been building up inside him during the great decade of metaphysical films beginning with Persona.

    July 9, 2018 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times

  • It's the most fun you'll have at an opera this side of Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. No wonder the audience - glimpsed in individual tightly framed shots - seem enraptured.

    March 21, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Tara Brady

    Irish Times

  • Ingmar Bergman's version of Mozart's The Magic Flute isn't his most cinematic work - it's a film version of an opera and was originally shown on Swedish TV. Nonetheless, there are elements here which echo his other films.

    March 14, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Geoffrey Macnab

    Independent (UK)

  • Using the opera's timeless whimsy and inventiveness, the movie replicates a performance on the stage that is so good that it almost makes you forget the participants' ABBA-like hairstyles.

    December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    John Monaghan

    Detroit Free Press

  • The intelligence and clarity of Bergman's The Magic Flute is a marvel.

    December 1, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
View All Critic Reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for The Magic Flute

  • Sep 29, 2008
    Everyone else is mental! Giving this film such high ratings. I am a fan of Mozart and I have a high tolerance for lengthy foreign films and musicals, bu this was near unbearable. I usual enjoy the songs from this opera, but they are now banned for a year, because of the bad memories from this film. It's so long and for some reason the camera pans to members of the audience for the first four minutes of the film. And throughout the opera at random points the camera pans to some little girl in the audience watching the opera. I mean WTF?? I thought I was watching the opera. DO NOT RENT THIS FILM!! IT"S SO BORING!
    Marion R Super Reviewer
  • Feb 06, 2008
    The opera works surprisingly well in Swedish, and, of course, Bergman's adaptation of this wonderful piece is one of a kind.
    vieras e Super Reviewer
  • Jun 07, 2007
    Excellent. Great take on a great opera by a great director.
    Morris N Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

The Magic Flute (Trollflöjten) Quotes

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