The Swedish doctor of literature Vilhelm Canitz arrives in Lugano in Switzerland, close to Italy, for a few weeks stay at a medical clinic. Canitz considers himself to be quite healthy and the stay as an extended vacation. He meets a number of patients at the clinic suffering from terminal illnesses, including Vellamo Toivonen (Lindfors). The patients deal with the fact that they will not leave the clinic alive in different ways; with self-destruction, denial or imprudence.
Acting
Lindfors luminous as woman who knows she's borrowed time
Direction
Ekman's clinical gaze mirrors the sanatorium's cruel objectivity
Cinematography
Lugano's beauty weaponized against dying characters
Director
Hasse Ekman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ekman made this during Swedish cinema's 'golden age' — Bergman was literally his assistant director two years later. The lineage shows.
Bengt Ekerot's small role as the German patient is devastating; he'd later play Death in The Seventh Seal. Casting prophecy.
SE
