Through a Glass Darkly (1961)

7.9Not Rated89 minDirector: Ingmar Bergman

1961 film by Ingmar Bergman

Through a Glass Darkly (Swedish: Såsom i en spegel, lit. 'As in a Mirror') is a 1961 Swedish psychological drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and starring Harriet Andersson, Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow and Lars Passgård. The film tells the story of a schizophrenic young woman (Andersson) vacationing on a remote island with her husband (von Sydow), novelist father (Björnstrand), and frustrated younger brother (Passgård).

Bergman structured the film as a three-act play, drawing on his personal experiences and relationships. The film was his first of several shot on the island of Fårö, at the recommendation of cinematographer Sven Nykvist. The score incorporates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Themes explored include the equation of God with love, exploitation in art, psychosis, and sexuality.

Through a Glass Darkly was released to positive reviews, specifically for Andersson's performance, and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was followed by Bergman's thematically related 1963 films Winter Light and The Silence.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Through a Glass Darkly about?
Through a Glass Darkly (1961) — Martin, , a respected doctor, his wife Karin, Karin's seventeen year old brother Minus, and widowed father David of Karin and Minus' have convened at the family's summer home on an island off the coast of Sweden to celebrate David's return from the Swiss Alps, where he was substa
Is Through a Glass Darkly based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Through a Glass Darkly scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.