Bergman tribute throughout the week, showcasing 22 films
Twenty-two films by Ingmar Bergman, who passed away less than a year ago aged 89, have been chosen for a tribute to the highly influential Swedish director, now on until Saturday at the Danaos cinema in Athens. Bergman directed over 50 films and managed, in a harsh yet refined fashion, to bring the human condition to the core of his filmmaking. The melancholic mood of his films and use of articulate language lead the viewer on bittersweet journeys into the darker aspects of existence, life and death. Bergman was born in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1918 and began his career in theater before turning to film in 1944 when he wrote the screenplay for «Torment/Frenzy,» a film directed by Alf Sjoberg. Two years later, Bergman emerged as a director with the film «Crisis» and achieved international recognition in 1955 with «Smiles of a Summer Night,» a humorous and lively look at love and relationships. His reputation abroad was further consolidated with 1957’s «The Seventh Seal,» a drama in which a philosophical knight plays chess with Death in an effort to find God. Bergman’s style was particularly investigative as he sought his casts’ finer nuances in their relationship with the camera. His melancholic takes on humanity in a world of alienation greatly influenced the broader arts, including numerous directors from Woody Allen to Theo Angelopoulos. Danaos, 109 Kifissias Ave, tel 210.692.2655.
