Past Film/Video | Series & Festivals

Smiles of a Summer Night | Brink of Life

(Sommarnattens leende, Ingmar Bergman, 1955)
(Nära livet, Ingmar Bergman, 1958)

DOUBLE FEATURE

Black and white movie still of two men standing in uniform.

"A nearly perfect work….In Smiles of a Summer Night, boudoir farce becomes lyric poetry."—Pauline Kael

"Bergman movies were the most influential…Brink of Life was the first one I ever saw. Three pregnant women in a maternity ward and their misery—I love that. That is what I want to show at my funeral."—John Waters, Esquire

Winner of a surprise award at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Poetic Humor, Smiles of a Summer Night is a delightful comedy of sexual manners set in turn-of-the-century Sweden. Four men and four women attempt to navigate the laws of attraction during a weekend in the country as the women collude to expose the men’s pretentions and insecurities. The erotic comedy was adapted by Stephen Sondheim in 1973 as his award-winning musical A Little Night Music. Featuring winning performances by Ulla Jacobsson, Gunnar Björnstrand, Harriet Andersson, and Eva Dahlbeck. (108 mins., 35mm)

Bergman’s fascination with the inner lives of women informed Brink of Life, a study of a maternity ward where three women (Bibi Andersson, Eva Dahlbeck, and Ingrid Thulin) await the big event with mixed attitudes—and fates. At Cannes that year, the film earned Bergman Best Director (his third consecutive major award there) and the three women a unique Best Actress award for their ensemble performance. With Erland Josephson and Max von Sydow. (84 mins., 35mm)

Black and white movie still of two men standing in uniform.

Smiles of a Summer Night, image courtesy of Janus Films

Black and white movie still.

SEASON SUPPORT FOR FILM/VIDEO

Rohauer Collection Foundation

 

SUPPORT FOR THE FILM/VIDEO STUDIO PROGRAM

Institute of Museum and Library Services

National Endowment for the Arts

 

GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE WEXNER CENTER

Greater Columbus Arts Council

Ohio Arts Council

Columbus Foundation

Nationwide Foundation

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Past Film/Video

Smiles of a Summer Night | Brink of Life