A young orchestra violinist’s fear of mediocrity and drive for artistic success strain his marriage to a fellow musician. Told largely in flashback and shaped by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the film examines ambition, love, and loss in early Ingmar Bergman.
Direction
Early Bergman finding his voice through obvious visual ambition.
Score
Beethoven's Ninth as structural backbone and emotional weapon.
Acting
Stig Olin's unbearably convincing as a man choosing art over love.
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Maj-Britt Nilsson
Marta Olsson
Stig Olin
Stig Eriksson
Birger Malmsten
Marcel
John Ekman
Mikael Bro
Margit Carlqvist
Nelly Bro
Victor Sjöström
Sönderby
Sif Ruud
Stina (uncredited)
Erland Josephson
Bertil (uncredited)
Ernst Brunman
Concert Hall Doorkeeper (uncredited)
Georg Skarstedt
Anker, Flute Player (uncredited)
Svea Holst
Nurse at the Maternity Ward (uncredited)
Ingmar Bergman
Expecting Father at the Maternity Ward (uncredited)
Tor Borong
Expecting Father at the Maternity Ward (uncredited)
Astrid Bodin
Guest at Marta's Birthday Party (uncredited)
Agda Helin
Nurse at the Maternity Ward (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bergman drew heavily from his own failed marriage to choreographer Else Fisher; this is basically expensive therapy.
The title quotes Schiller's 'Ode to Joy' — ironic given how thoroughly joy is systematically dismantled.
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