Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
Runtime: 109 minutes
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Ulla Jacobsson, Eva Dahlbeck, Harriet Andersson, Margit Carlqvist, Gunnar Bjornstrand
From: Svensk Filmindustri
Last night felt like time to experience more Ingmar Bergman. Sometime during the Thanksgiving holiday I’ll post a list of the films I’ve seen from him so far; all have been highly rated. Technically this is my “least favorite”, although that is no insult as it is still a 4 star picture. Unlike the director’s typical serious, austere style, Smiles is comedic in nature.
Now, it was more amusing than uproarious yet I was still entertained. The focus is on the romantic entanglements between a variety of characters in turn of the 20th century Sweden. As this includes a stepson having the hots for his new stepmother that’s actually younger than him and another character makes a guy feel up her boobs… sex is a theme. “Wacky facial hair” was also a theme, at least to me. It culminates in a night spent at someone’s estate where yes, partner-swapping occurs. Bergman in fact was married 5 times and was rarely faithful.
Much of this journey I dare not spoil. It was nice to see something different from Bergman that was still filmed well and managed to be his international breakout. From hearsay, Bergman was at a low point in his life for a variety of reasons; that was not apparent just judging by what was on screen. There is a dark undercurrent throughout and in addition, some downhearted moments. That said, there is the presence of wine, the ingredients of which I hope were inaccurately stated by a character!
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