A swiftly flowing stream, a train passing, are symbols of time passing. The film opens with an agonizingly prolonged church service, attended by half a dozen. All, including the priest, are doubters in their own way. A sailor shoots himself, unable to reconcile the reality of evil with god's existence. Even Christ, we are reminded, was assailed by doubt at his final moment. The black and white canvas of a frozen Scandinavian winter, bare trees and icy rivers, adorns this morose and beautiful film.
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REVIEW
2 comments:
When I watched a very painful conversation scene in "The White Ribbon"(2009), I was reminded of another hurtful conversation between the minister and the other character in this great film.
If I get the chance to revisit the film, I will focus on Sven Nykvist's cinematography, which was based on the painstaking observation of the light condition in a real provincial church.
I seem to be on a revision cinematic journey.....
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