This philosophical fantasy film from Ingmar Bergman I found really interesting on several levels.
First of all there is the script, which is of existential orientation, philosophically very nuanced, and intellectual. Second of all the performances, particularly from Max von Sydow as Antonius, not to mention Bengt Ekerot as the grim reaper, are absolutely superb.
But I found the film, even for an Ingmar Bergman direction, very slowly paced, and I think it suffered from bad editing.
Otherwise, I found it to be a very interesting premise for a film, albeit not touching, and I think this could have been conveyed better, as the script held great emotional potential.
First of all there is the script, which is of existential orientation, philosophically very nuanced, and intellectual. Second of all the performances, particularly from Max von Sydow as Antonius, not to mention Bengt Ekerot as the grim reaper, are absolutely superb.
But I found the film, even for an Ingmar Bergman direction, very slowly paced, and I think it suffered from bad editing.
Otherwise, I found it to be a very interesting premise for a film, albeit not touching, and I think this could have been conveyed better, as the script held great emotional potential.