Ingmar Bergman, The Master [Scene from Persona, 1966]

A short scene from one of my favorite writer/directors, exemplifying Bergman's brilliant use of natural light.

A quote by Bergman in reference to his work:

"Today I feel that in Persona — and later in Cries and Whispers — I had gone as far as I could go. And that in these two instances when working in total freedom, I touched wordless secrets that only the cinema can discover."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Persona
• Ingmar
• Bergman
• Lighting
• Classical
• Cinema
• Cinematography

[munkybrain]

If this is all natural light then that's mind blowing. It's a day for night of sorts, then? I can't remember whether this scene is contextually day or night

[tylershoemakeri]

@munkybrain I believe it's contextually dawn on the coast. This takes place after Alma stays up all night talking to Elizabeth Vogler. It might not be natural lighting but I believe Bergman was pretty intent on using natural light as often as possible (sunlight or even oil lamps and candles) so I wouldn't doubt that they would have waited for the right light.

[1488bill]

Brilliant. Great quote as well. Did that quote come from his Magic Lantern biography?

Every time I see another one of his films- I have a new favorite. Just this week I saw Sawdust and Tinsel AND Fanny och Alexander...on Y.T. !!

He is the sublime psychological master. I am involved in a ongoing,heated debate presently as to who the greatest film maker of all time is-Bergman or Kubrick. Their merits get flung back and forth. Only a few other names have even been mentioned in the conversation.

[tylershoemakeri]

@1488bill I think Bergman, no doubt about it. Bergman completely changed cinema forever. Every film we see now in theaters was influenced by Bergman. He added a a depth of reality to the screen which at the time, was completely unbelievable. It's just hard for us to see it now because of how saturated our current media is with what he invented.

[munkybrain]

@1488bill I agree with tyler. If i have to put them in order, I would rank bergman higher. Bergman had the better focus and the furthest reach.

[loridomi1]

@tylershoemakeri well said, can I post to a friend?

[takkcertu]

Greatest filmmaker EVER

[1488bill]

@munkybrain  I've just seen ' The Serpent's Egg' - that's about the 20th Bergman film I've seen. I really like a lot of foreign film directors - Godard, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh, Lars V. Trier - but I love Bergman the most for many of the reasons you touched upon. To me, Bergman personifies the aesthetic pursuits of Nietzsche.