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| Victor Sjöström, Bibi Andersson,
Ingrid Thulin |
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Anamorphic
widescreen |
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Dolby Digital
5.1 |
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DTS |
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Trailer(s) |
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Featurette(s) |
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Documentary |
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Audio commentary
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Deleted scenes
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Concept art
/ storyboards |
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Multi-angle
feature |
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Alman
(Gunmar Sjöberg): Furthermore, Professor Borg, you are accused
of some smaller but nonetheless serious offences: indifference, selfishness,
lack of consideration.
Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström): No.
Alman: These accusations have been made by your wife. Would you
like to meet her?
Isak Borg: But my wife has been dead for many years.
After
living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront
the emptiness of his existence.
 Whether
or not this remarkbale film is Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's
greatest achievement (as many would argue), it stands without doubt
that it is one of his truly great films. It has inspired many other
filmmakers (including Woody Allen, whose excellent Another Woman
is basically a remake) and manages to encompass most of its director's
regular themes in an accessible, forthright manner. Trifling matters
like love, death, the pursuit of happiness and family ties are all
dealt with honestly and movingly without ever coming across as overblown
or unbearably pretentious.
Much of the film's appeal does lie in legendary Swedish actor/director
Victor Sjöström, who came out of retirement to deliver this
incredible performance for Bergman. His face may be sternly set, but
his hangdog eyes and slowly softening features visualize the story's
development beautifully. Some elements (most notably the hitchhikers
he picks up and their overly symbolic presence) now seem dated and a
little trite, but the film's many beautiful, poignant and unsettling
scenes still have tremendous impact and make this one of its director's
most enduring classics. |
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A
Region 2 bare-bones release for the UK is expected later in 2002 from
Tartan Video, which holds the UK distribution rights to this title.
For now, the Region 1 Criterion Collection edition reviewed here is
the only available DVD release.
The
fullscreen image is framed at its original Academy aspect ratio of approx.
1.33:1. The Swedish film industry has always taken great pains to archive
and maintain the movies that form its heritage, and the results of this
policy are visible in the almost flawless transfer presented here. Some
close-up shots exhibit very fine levels of film grain, but the source
print is otherwise in pristine condition, with outstanding contrast
and rock-solid black levels. A superb visual presentation by any standard.
The monaural sound mix has been cleaned up nicely with hiss reduction
technology, and is presented here from the center channel in Dolby Digital
1.0.
Film
historian, Bergman biographer and Criterion commentary regular Peter
Cowie provides yet another fine audio commentary track packed
to the gills with helpful and informative insights that open up the
film to those not yet familiar with Bergman's work and add enormously
to the enjoyment of even the biggest fan. His delivery may be a bit
studied and dry, more like a lecture than an improvized yack track,
but his comments are so helpful in furthering one's understanding and
enjoyment that he still effortlessly holds the attention for the track's
feature-length duration. There's also a 90-minute documentary
on Bergman, that consists almost entirely of unique recent interview
material recorded for Swedish TV. Much of the focus is on Bergman's
personal life and how this has influenced his career in film and the
theater, and it is enhanced by the occasional bit of stock footage and
set of archival family photos. It's a revealing portrait, brutally honest
and hugely illuminating about the complex man behind several marvelous
films. A generous selection of nicely presented production photographs
and cast portraits are presented in the still gallery. Finally,
a liner essay by Peter Cowie introducing the film is to be found
in the DVD's booklet.The
main menu screen has some nice subtle animation, and navigation and design
are up to the Criterion Collection's usual high standards.
Dan
Hassler-Forest
Reviewed: April
14, 2002
Click
here for IMDB info on Wild
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