Summer Interlude

Summer Interlude, 1951
(Sommarlek)
dir. Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Maj-Britt Nilsson, Birger Malmsten, Alf Kjellin
3.6/5

I finally enjoyed a Bergman film.  I FINALLY ENJOYED AN INGMAR BERGMAN FILM! It’s a big deal for me. I think I said in a previous post that I’ve started several Bergman films, but they were completely lost on me. But this one was good! And it made sense! And I liked it!

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy movie. The film follows Marie, a 28-year-old ballerina. One day, she receives a diary in the mail, which inspires her to travel to an island she had spent her summer vacations at. She then recollects the summer of Henrik, her first love fifteen years prior. The beauty and tragedy of their short-lived romance not only explains the wall she has built around herself, but gives her the means to help break it down.

Ignoring my excitement over this film being a Bergman, it actually was a very sweet story – actually, quite relatable. Like Marie, I’ve had relationships that affected me so deeply, I have trouble thinking that anybody could take the place of “boyfriend” again; but then, I learn the real success lies within using the past to help improve the future. I found the acting exquisite, and no part of the film seemed boring or bizarre-ly artsy.

Favorite thing: Nilsson’s beauty is quite unique – she pulled off being a 28-year-old as well as she did a 15-year-old. Perhaps makeup did her justice in one case or the other, but still very cool.

Worst thing: Marie’s creepy Uncle Erland. Uncles hitting on nieces just isn’t my thang.

Should you watch it? Yes. Especially if you are like me and don’t think directors of Bergman’s esteem interest you.

The Road

The Road, 1954
(La strada)
dir. Federico Fellini
Starring: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart
4.1/5

Despite loving film, I have to admit, some of the more prominent names in the world of cinema intimidate me a bit. In my film classes, we often talked about Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Luc Godard, and Federico Fellini. I have tried watching several Bergman films, but grew too confused. Godard has started to bore me. I feared my first encounter with a Fellini film was already doomed.

I chose The Road as my first Fellini. It is centered around Gelsomina, a woman who is sold to Zampano to take his dead wife’s – her sister’s – place by his side. Zampano works as a traveling showman, and eventually incorporates Gelsomina in his act as the announcer, as he uses his strength to break chains. Despite her help, Zampano cheats on her, is mean to her, and beats her. In time, the two join a traveling circus, where they meet Il Matto, a tightrope walker and musician. He and Gelsomina get along from the start, but he and Zampano do not. This bittersweet triangle leads to unexpected tragedies as time goes on.

I was so happy I understood this film. I laughed! I cried! I wasn’t lost! I felt for the characters! I followed the story! I’m not hopeless with renowned film!

Favorite thing: Giulietta Masina is easily the cutest actress I have ever seen.

Worst thing: You really connect with Gelsomina, which makes the film twice as heartbreaking.

Should you watch it? YES!!!

Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause, 1955
dir. Nicholas Ray
Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo
4/5

When I was in high school, there were certainly groups of people that would be considered a “bad crowd”. They didn’t really get into any sort of trouble…they just did drugs and always got away with it. Some rebellion, huh? Anyway, I had been meaning to watch Rebel Without a Cause for a while. I spent all of high school dreaming of some rugged bad boy to come along and show me the teddy bear interior hiding under his leather jacket (the closest I got was a guy who wore leather skinny pants and cat ears).

Rebel Without a Cause, in my eyes, is kind of like the Perks of Being a Wallflower of its time. In it, Jim, a troubled, well-meaning young man, moves to a new town. While trying to make friends, Jim ends up getting involved with several “bad” people. After a fatal accident occurs at a midnight drag race, Jim, his friends, enemies, and family deal with a series of events they will never forget.

Honestly, I liked this movie a whole lot more than the typical “troubled teen” films and shows. I think too many people forget that teens of the past weren’t just squares who went dancing and drank soda…if anything, for their time, they had just as much fun as “rebellious youths” of today. Maybe even more fun – and not to mention, it was a whole lot easier to get away with it.

Favorite thing: The film’s plotline didn’t develop through sex, drugs, or overused social events. It dealt with reality: crimes, death, serious differences between teenagers and their parents, emotionally troubled teenagers. It seemed more real, less trivial.

Worst thing: It reminded me far too much of my high school days, in the sense that jerks will pick on you relentlessly for no reason other than the fact that you’re different, and even when you try to be friendly, it ends up making matters worse.

Should you watch it? Most definitely.

The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows, 1959
(Les quatre cents coups)
dir. Francois Truffaut
Starring: Jean-Pierre Leaud, Albert Remy, Claire Maurier
3.7/5

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I wanted to run away from home when I was little. I distinctly remember in 4th grade, my three closest friends and I made plans to run away before we got to middle school. We would go to the city area club and practice swimming, hunting, singing…in essence, become hippie Neanderthals in a small town full of gas stations and pizza parlors. Looking back, I was obviously naïve and foolish, but hey, I was independent.

Watching The 400 Blows as an adult, I’m beginning to see all of the silly things that I would have been involved with had I ever ran away. Antoine, a boy approximately in 4th-5th grade, runs away from home various times for multiple reasons: bad grades, lies, stealing, etc. At first life goes smoothly, but as he begins committing petty crimes to get by, his plans of making it on his own spiral downward.

I loved this film for helping me not only connect with Antoine, but also my childhood self. Despite the film’s age, it really opened my eyes as to what would have happened if my friends and I followed through. If anything, it would have been harder. 40 years later, it would’ve been harder to steal, or live off of $10, or bum at friends’ houses without question. Even as a junior in college, it hits home. I’m on my own, and I struggle with starting over, finding a place to call home, earning my keep.

Favorite thing: Antoine is made a connectable character, and the adults are portrayed the same way we would have seen them when we were children getting into trouble.

Worst thing: The ending really leaves you hanging.

Should you watch it? I’d say yes, especially if you’re moving out (or running away?) soon.