The Silence (1963) ****

Ingmar Bergman spent much of his career making films brimming with (brilliant) dialogue. While The Silence (1963) isn't quite silent there are indeed very few vocal exchanges. It's a film that relies heavily on its images, its erotically charged nature and its dreamlike impressionism (something Bergman would explore even further in Persona (1966)).

The Silence concerns the unusual and volatile relationship between two sisters (one sensual and emotionally detached, one intellectual and seriously ill) plus the son of the first, as they travel by train, eventually staying in a hotel in a small undisclosed city where war is imminent. While it's certainly tame by today's standards, the film's frank depictions of sex and frequent nudity were highly controversial in its day and oddly enough—though being cut in many countries—caused the film to be financially successful, based on its reputation.

You can find my Ingmar Bergman Feature Films Ranked list here.

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