And the wind chime strikes and your dead stare strikes

[sovay]

I wasn't surprised about The Seventh Seal (1957), but I had no idea my brain considered Bergman generally comfort viewing. I just rewatched The Devil's Eye (Djävulens öga, 1960) and The Magician (Ansiktet, 1958)—in the case of the former, for the first time since the winter of 1999; I had liked it then and it was better than I remembered—and if I didn't need to make myself try to fall asleep I would probably have cued up Hour of the Wolf (Vargtimmen, 1968), it being the right time of night and all. I bounced hard off Persona (1966), but everything else I can recall has been a hit. Do I just find existentialism basically reassuring? I don't want to read Camus, even if all the cool kids are doing it.

Comments

[gwynnega]

I bounced off Persona too but then warmed to it later. The Bergman I've not yet warmed to is Cries and Whispers. I was underwhelmed by Hour of the Wolf the first time I saw it, but now it's one of my absolute favorites.

[sovay]

I bounced off Persona too but then warmed to it later.

I'll keep that in mind. As I recall, it left me thinking, "Look, if you wanted to make a lesbian vampire movie, just make a lesbian vampire movie!"

The Bergman I've not yet warmed to is Cries and Whispers.

I have not yet seen that one. I am also still missing the entire silence-of-God trilogy.

I was underwhelmed by Hour of the Wolf the first time I saw it, but now it's one of my absolute favorites.

Its nightmares were so good, I loved it immediately. The lady with the hat!