cries and whispers explores the uncomfortable relationship between life and death and how a prolonged, painful illness can be a swing door between both worlds.
what struck me most was the disconnectedness exhibited by some of the characters, an inescapable side effect it seemed of adulthood. set against that emotional and mental detachment is anna’s character, whose simple faith and kindness elevate her to the role of steadfast earth mother.
the cinematography is striking. everything inside the manor where most of the film is shot is red except for the women who are dressed in immaculate white. transitions throughout the film are dissolves to red. bergman is said to have explained that red is the color of the soul – the inside of the soul. for me the red created an artificial environment – it reminded me of the theater with its heavy red curtains or a jewelry box that’s sumptuous red velvet on the inside. the women seemed to be fleeting figures not quite absorbed by their environment. again that odd sense of disjuncture, of the real and unreal subsisting side by side, of superficial showy exteriors vs what is intimate and true.
bonus features on the dvd included an interview with bergman and his life-long friend and collaborator actor erland josephson. what a treat! bergman was in his early 80s at the time and josephson in his late seventies. both are candid, witty, and profound as they talk about love, life and death. just brilliant.