A gripping portrait of mental illness and family ties from a master director, and a film with a narrow focus and a cast of four (father, son, daughter, daughter's husband). Slow in the beginning but suddenly enrapturing, the stakes keep rising as we see the characters "mirror" each other's behaviour, frustrating each others' attempts at normal, intimate family relationships at every turn until we reach the harrowing conclusion. When I review, I prefer to get into specifics, but to me this is the kind of film that's probably better to go into blind, as it's full of surprises and subtle plot points that, while they won't look interesting in a summary - or an academic treatise, which one could easily write about this film - are captivating once you're into them. Watching it was an outstanding experience... I won't spoil it for you.

The first in Bergman's "Silent God" trilogy a subject matter that I find very intriguing. Though I found this film to be just as much about the intricacies of personal relationships as it was the intricacies of religion. I can't think of a better analogy on family / religion then this quote from the film: "We draw a magic circle and shut out everything that doesn't agree with our secret games. Each time life breaks the circle, the games turn gray and ridiculous. Then we draw a new circle and build a new defense." I love this line and believe that if more people in the world were open to new ideas and "drew new circles" rather then wallowing in doubt and fear inside their (often horribly antiquated) circles - acting "gray and ridiculous"...the world would be a better place. I know this might sound strange to some people (seeing how this is a black & white film) but it is just beautiful to watch. Bergman's eye is impeccable. I found it interesting that while time is implied throughout the film (morning, night, etc.)...visually they appear to be stuck in a dawn/dusk sort of place. Never fully light and never completely dark. Perhaps a subtle reference to their relationships with both God and eachother? The acting is stellar. Harriet Anderson in particular does an amazing job at drifting seemlessly between: ingenue, sex kitten, repressed wife and mad woman. A performance that is ultimately heartbreaking. It is definately a thinking persons film, so if you are somoene who likes to have everything spelled out nicely for you along the way and tied in a pretty bow at the end - skip it. If however you enjoy a film that stays with you for days - thinking about and discussing all of it's intricacies...then pop it in the DVD and ENJOY!