Autumn Sonata (1978)

Wow. Just wow. Ingmar Bergman really outdid himself this time. His movies are always a thoughtful watch because they're usually out somewhere on a parallel spiritual plane. This one, however, has two new characteristics: First, he's completely up-in-your-face about dysfunctional families. And second, there is so much incredible philosophy threaded into the film that you'll want to hit the pause button and take notes. IMHO, this might be Ingmar's best.

The intensity with which Ingmar Bergman brings together truly stunning performances from Liv Ullmann ("Eva") trying to reconcile with her chronically back pain ridden mother "Charlotte" (Ingrid Bergman) is fascinating to watch in this powerful, visceral drama. The relationship has long since been strained as the concert pianist mother had to make plenty of sacrifices - and choices - that affected her family. When she unexpectedly visits her daughter, the two sit at a piano, an experience that unlocks the flood gates on an history of blame, recrimination and resentment - though not without some considerable affection, too - and we are taken on a fairly joyless guided tour of their lives together. To add to this already fairly emotionally turbulent cocktail, "Charlotte" discovers that her other daughter "Helena" (a wonderfully authentic effort from Lena Nyman) - who suffers from a pretty severe mental illness - is also being cared for by her sister, and yet more demons emerge. Essentially a double-hander between the mother and daughter, this story runs the gamut of feelings and though at times you can't help feeling that the scenarios are just a little unnecessarily downbeat, the tightness of the close up photography and poignancy of the dialogue makes for a compelling evaluation of human ambition, priorities and, of love. Enjoyable? Well, I don't think I could say that - but captivating, well yes - certainly