Skammen (1968)

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

23 December 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Ingmar Bergman's psychological study of how humans react in a situation of war. The film takes place on Gotland, where invasion forces arrives.

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Island | Farm | Fictional War | Military

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 8 wins

Cast

Liv Ullmann	...	Eva Rosenberg
Max von Sydow	...	Jan Rosenberg
Sigge Fürst	...	Filip
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Col. Jacobi
Birgitta Valberg	...	Mrs. Jacobi
Hans Alfredson	...	Lobelius
Ingvar Kjellson	...	Oswald
Frank Sundström	...	Chief interrogator
Ulf Johansson	...	The doctor
Vilgot Sjöman	...	The interviewer
Bengt Eklund	...	Guard
Gösta Prüzelius	...	The vicar
Willy Peters	...	Elder officer
Barbro Hiort af Ornäs	...	Woman in the boat
Agda Helin	...	Merchant's wife

Also Known As:

Shame (USA)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (video rating) (2004) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fårö, Gotlands län, Sweden

Company:

Cinematograph AB

Goofs:

Continuity: Eva is not wearing any socks when Jacobi arrives but several times during his visit she can be seen wearing a couple of black socks and no socks at all again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in En passion (1969)

Incredible

Bergman's Skammen is one of the most realistic depictions of war ever set to film. This is not an action film by any means, though the pacing is faster and there is most action than in most any other Bergman movie. Nor is this a romanticisation of war or patriotism, unlike most war movies. In fact, the gritty realism and the deliberate ambiguity of the character's loyalties has a very contemporary feel.

Skammen is a darkly lit movie, that should be watched at night, so as to let it work it's magic. Many of the effects are conveyed indirectly, but so effectively that some scenes compete in intensity to a contemporary, insanely huge budget film like Saving Private Ryan. Of course, the action in Skammen is on a much smaller scale but it is impressive none-the-less.

While the film-making style feels contemporary, the setting of the film feels timeless and placeless. The war-torn countryside, and even the yet intact provincial hamlet could be anywhere, any time. And this film is not so much about specific historical events, with specific names and dates, but about universal human reactions to adversity and chaos.

The acting in Skammen, though typically impressive from Ullman and Sydow, is not of primary importance in this film, unlike most other Bergman movies. Through much of the film they are spectators, much as we are. Bergman has the war imposed on them, and through them on the audience, and their reaction is perhaps what any of our reactions might be.

Highly recommended. 10/10