Two women—a fashion executive and her young model—experience parallel romantic disappointments during a trip to Gothenburg, exposing generational differences in desire, illusion, and emotional endurance. A transitional work in Ingmar Bergman’s mid-1950s cinema.
Acting
Dahlbeck and Andersson's devastating parallel performances.
Cinematography
Hilding Bladh's shadowy Gothenburg glamour shots.
Writing
Bergman's cruel, precise dissection of romantic fantasy.
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Eva Dahlbeck
Susanne
Harriet Andersson
Doris
Gunnar Björnstrand
Otto Sönderby, konsul
Ulf Palme
Henrik Lobelius
Inga Landgré
Fru Lobelius
Benkt-Åke Benktsson
Magnus
Sven Lindberg
Palle Palt
Naima Wifstrand
Fru Arén
Renée Björling
Maria Berger
Ludde Gentzel
Ferdinand Sundström
Axel Düberg
Fotograf
Git Gay
Butiksbiträde
Jessie Flaws
Make-up artist
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bergman shot this between 'Smiles of a Summer Night' and 'The Seventh Seal,' using it to workshop his emerging female-centered tragedy.
The fashion industry setting was Bergman's cheeky nod to his own critics who dismissed his early 'women's pictures'—he made it their nightmare.
SE
