NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Want to hear the voice of Ingmar Bergman, the master film-maker from Sweden who remained inaccessible to interviewers for over a decade? Watch The Voice of Bergman, by Gunnar Bergdahl, founder-editor of the Swedish film publication Filmkonst.The film has absolutely nothing to do with any of the works of Bergman. Director Bergdahl has consciously chosen to remain in the background and let Bergman ``just talk''. He has Bergman talking about everything from De Mille to Kevin Costner, from silent era to that mind-boggling sci-fi film Independence Day, which he labels ``lunacy''.
The Voice of Bergman consists of eight acts: The Word and the Image, The Illusion of Time, The Music of the Close-up, Focus of Pain, Shards from the Mirror, The Cinema of Faro, The Insanity of Film and The Great Mystery.
At one point during the talk, Bergman likens film festivals to a circus. ``How many films,'' he asks, ``does one watch a day?'' and answers it himself: ``Four? Maybe five?''.
There is no way anyone can ingest the ``stuff'' in one's mind and heart. Small wonder, then, that he suggests that his Best Intentions ought not to be seen ``along with another ordinary film, for, such an experience leaves one's mind in a state of confusion.''
While this film was being screened on Wednesday at Siri Fort Auditorium, there was evidence that his description of film festivals as circuses was absolutely right. There were cat calls from many of Delhi's ``film buffs'' who had no patience to listen to The Voice of Bergman.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
