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

[mrissa]

Well, there's always Lloyd Alexander.

[asakiyume]

I'm looking forward to reading your Seventh Seal post--I have it saved up.

A philosophy where we infuse our lives with meaning and purpose? I mean, *I* find it reassuring/heartening, so I wouldn't be surprised if you did too.

[sovay]

Well, there's always Lloyd Alexander.

You know, that probably was a formative part of it.

(Thank God, the Prydain Chronicles are among my books not in storage, although the Westmark trilogy is not. I have been unironically wondering where I could find his translations of Sartre now that libraries are closed.)

[sovay]

I'm looking forward to reading your Seventh Seal post--I have it saved up.

I hope you enjoy when you get to it! Thank you!

A philosophy where we infuse our lives with meaning and purpose? I mean, *I* find it reassuring/heartening, so I wouldn't be surprised if you did too.

Well, when you put it that way.

[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!

[mrissa]

Hmmm best of luck, I have a hard enough time finding them when our library is open.

[poliphilo]

There's no magic in Camus- whereas Bergman is overflowing with it.

[sovay]

There's no magic in Camus- whereas Bergman is overflowing with it.

Then I will go on watching Bergman and not reading Camus. (And not feeling bad about it, either way.)

[asakiyume]

Love your edit--Tiny Wittgenstein is one roommate you don't need right now. I think this is a good moment (in the rainy early morning, before my daily facetime with one of the two daughters in Japan) for reading it.