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Cries and Whispers (1972)

Cries and Whispers (1972)
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Cries and Whispers stars Liv Ullman and Ingrid Thulin as the sisters of dying cancer patient Harriet Andersson. Both sisters have already had brushes with death: Ullman has had an affair which prompted her husband's suicide, while Thulin has long wanted to do away with herself, at one point mutilating her own vagina out of self-hatred. As for Andersson, she has been in pain so long that she feels as though she's in the midst of death-in-life. With her two sisters wrapped up in their own problems, Harriet turns to her housekeeper Kari Sylwan for comfort; Sylwan has herself suffered the death of a child, and has developed a philosophical attitude towards impending doom. One of the most influential moments of the film -- when two of the sisters share the innermost thoughts that they'd kept from one another for so many years -- is filmed without benefit of dialogue, with the music of Chopin (enhanced by cinematographer Sven Nykvist's carefully selected camera angles) "speaking" for the ladies. While Cries and Whispers only won the Oscar for cinematography, the film did very well for itself in international awards contests. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Harriet AnderssonKari Sylwan, (more)
Director(s):
Ingmar Bergman
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Cries and Whispers

Cries and Whispers stars Liv Ullman and Ingrid Thulin as the sisters of dying cancer patient Harriet Andersson. Both sisters have already had brushes with death: Ullman has had an affair which prompted her husband's suicide, while Thulin has long wanted to do away with herself, at one point mutilating her own vagina out of self-hatred. As for Andersson, she has been in pain so long that she feels as though she's in the midst of death-in-life. With her two sisters wrapped up in their own problems, Harriet turns to her housekeeper Kari Sylwan for comfort; Sylwan has herself suffered the death of a child, and has developed a philosophical attitude towards impending doom. One of the most influential moments of the film -- when two of the sisters share the innermost thoughts that they'd kept from one another for so many years -- is filmed without benefit of dialogue, with the music of Chopin (enhanced by cinematographer Sven Nykvist's carefully selected camera angles) "speaking" for the ladies. While Cries and Whispers only won the Oscar for cinematography, the film did very well for itself in international awards contests. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
91 mins

Complete Cast of Cries and Whispers


Director(s):
Ingmar Bergman
Writer(s):
Ingmar Bergman
Producer(s):
Ingmar BergmanLars-Owe Carlberg
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Rape & Sexual Abuse, Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Situations)
Cries and Whispers Awards:
  • 1973 - National Board of Review - Best Director
  • 1973 - National Board of Review - Best Foreign Film
  • 1972 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
  • 1972 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
  • 1972 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Screenplay
  • 1972 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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Member Reviews
 
Philip P.

I couldn't get this film out of my mind for days. If you like car chases, plot twists and characters who remind you of the folks next door, give it a miss. If you want an intense and focused study of the twists and contortions of human nature, this one is hard to beat. The acting is superb.

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James F.

This movie is probably too long and dull for 99 percent of America. And I don't mean that 99 percent of America is stupid with no attention span. But this movie really requires effort to watch. If you can, watch this alone late at night. If you're in the 99 percent you'll fall asleep. If you're in the one percent, you will be drawn into complex web of human emotions that climaxes in a horrifying scene that will scare the bejeezus out of you. This is a film about women shown to us through Ingmar Bergman's own understanding of them. Women play the roles of the loving caregiver/nurse, the cold and reserved matriarch, and the whimsical but cruel mistress. This movie will stay in your head, not just for days, but for years. It is really a work of art.

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Cary B.

A slow, somber and ponderous drama rife with symbolism but no coherent plot. Can't really recommend it.

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