Ansiktet (1958)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

27 August 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Into the Nether-World! You'll Gasp At This Occult Hypnotic Experience Into the Supernatural!

Plot:

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports...

Plot Keywords:

Parable | 1800s | Illusion | Magician

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Max von Sydow	...	Albert Emanuel Vogler
Ingrid Thulin	...	Manda Vogler (alias Mr. Aman)
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Dr. Vergerus, Minister of Health
Naima Wifstrand	...	Granny Vogler
Bengt Ekerot	...	Johan Spegel
Bibi Andersson	...	Sara Lindqvist
Gertrud Fridh	...	Ottilia Egerman
Lars Ekborg	...	Simson, the coach driver
Toivo Pawlo	...	Police Superintendant Starbeck
Erland Josephson	...	Consul Egerman
Åke Fridell	...	Tubal
Sif Ruud	...	Sofia Garp
Oscar Ljung	...	Antonsson, burly stableman
Ulla Sjöblom	...	Henrietta Starbeck
Axel Düberg	...	Rustan, young manservant
Birgitta Pettersson	...	Sanna
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leif Furhammar
Arne Martensson	...	Customs officer
Frithiof Bjärne	...	Border Officer (uncredited)
Tor Borong	...	Border Officer (uncredited)
Harry Schein	...	Customs officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman		writer

Produced by
Allan Ekelund	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Erik Nordgren

Cinematography by
Gunnar Fischer

Film Editing by
Oscar Rosander

Production Design by
P.A. Lundgren

Costume Design by
Greta Johansson
Manne Lindholm

Makeup Department
Börje Lundh	....	makeup artist
Nils Nittel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Carl-Henry Cagarp	....	studio production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gösta Ekman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman	....	property master (as Karl Arne Bergman)

Sound Department
Åke Hansson	....	sound
Aaby Wedin	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Rolf Holmquist	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Eskil Eckert-Lundin	....	conductor (as E. Eckert-Lundin)

Other crew
Katinka Faragó	....	script supervisor (as Katherina Faragó)

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• Janus Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1978) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (1993) (video) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

The Face (UK)
The Magician (USA)
Le visage (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
O Rosto (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Ansigtet (Denmark) [da]
Das Gesicht (West Germany) [de]
El mago (Argentina) [es]
El rostro (Spain) [es]
Het gelaat (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Il volto (Italy) [it]
Kasvot (Finland) [fi]
O anthropos me ta 2 prosopa (Greece) [el]
Twarz (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

100 min | UK:107 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

AGA Sound System

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (video rating) (2001) | UK:X

Filming Locations:

Djurgardsslaten 49-51, Skansen, Djurgården, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Trivia:

The character name Vergerus is one that recurs throughout Bergman's work and is generally associated with lack of emotion and heartlessness.

Quotes:

Johan Spegel: I've prayed one prayer in my life: Use me, O God! But He never understood what a devoted slave I'd have been. So I was never used... But that too is a lie. Step by step you go into the dark. The movement itself is the only truth.

Religious symbolism in Ansiktet (The Magician)

Most of Ingmar Bergman's films are meant to titillate the intellect. The Magician is no exception. It is rich with symbolism. I think it ranks right up there with "Death in Venice" on the list of misunderstood movies.

I believe the most rewarding level of meaning in "The Magician" is the religious one. Bergman was often concerned with the implications of religious beliefs. And almost always from the attitude of doubt. Consider the lines in The Seventh Seal where the vicious monk, annoyed with the knight's persistence, asks, "Will you never stop asking questions?" and the knight replies resolutely, "No. Never."

Watching this movie with the idea of Vogler as Jesus provides a perspective that informs the characters and their conduct. This melancholy magician, doubted and persecuted by the powerful, surrounded by strange and suspicious persons, is simultaneously visionary and earthy flesh and blood. He only wants to perform his miracles for the masses. Or is he a charlatan? What a powerful way to pose that question.