Sunday, November 18, 2012

Movie review - "Shame" (1968) ****

Powerful anti war film from Ingmar Bergman which will make you feel knocked about by the end. We get a flash of Liv Ullman's boobs in the first 30 seconds and it starts off as a warm-ish drama about a couple (Ullman and max Von Sydow) living on an island during war time. Things don't seem too bad - they can visit town, have some wine, chat to friends - but then the enemy comes in and it goes haywire. They face attacks, death, life or death decisions, manipulation and sex, despite just wanting to be left alone.

Both Ullman and Von Sydow are superb - actually everyone is good. I loved the opening credits with it's shouting voices, and the attack on the farm and especially the final ten minutes. I didn't quite believe an army would raid a farm and make it a priority that Ullman speak political propaganda and it does go on a bit at times, But days later and I'm still thinking about it.

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