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In 1909, poor, idealistic theology student Henrik Bergman falls in love with Anna Åkerbloom, the intelligent, educated daughter of a rich family in Uppsala. After their wedding Henrik becomes a priest in the north of Sweden. After a few years Anna can't stand living in the rural county with the uncouth people. She returns to Uppsala, Henrik stays in the north.

After a long and successful career, Bergman wrote this script: essentially the story of his parents, who were second cousins, who fell in love despite some obstacles. And he did not just write it as a throwaway, he passionately threw himself into it and it became a three-hour epic.

I do love that directing duties fell to Bille August. I would think with a story so personal, Bergman himself would want to have complete control. But no, he distanced himself. And that was a brave, bold move. His family's story as told by a third party.

"On one hand, Henry is too conceited to seek the middle ground, having been at the receiving end of humiliation for too long, he is righteous, headstrong, aloof and even a ghost of callousness can be sensed from his clash with a local fat cat Nordenson (Hjulström), which sounds rather personal, not to mention getting steamed up after an audience with Queen Victoria of Sweden (Björk). In his petty heart, he cannot tolerate disagreement. Fröler, always looks somewhat miffed with his perfectly trimmed mustache, refines Henry's wounded dignity with a mask of impassivity, which becomes his defense mechanism towards the world both inside and outside, his feelings for Anna is genuine, but he also resents her for putting him through the wrangler before tying the knot, and when he cannot stand her rich girl's temperament, he simply lashes out, the shouting match inside the chapel relating to their pending wedding arrangement is among one of the most candid and riveting squabbling scenes ever filmed and performed, it is Bergman's perspicacity and the two crackerjack sparring partners at work."

read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, thanks.

When you are an admirer of Ingmar Bergman, like me, this film is the best choice. Not only as reflection of his spirit. Not only for the performances and lovely use of melodrama. But for something escaping to definitions. The atmosphere, the portrait of marriage in the first half of XX century Sweden. And more. It is a film about happiness of the other , yourself being only a tool for it. A film about sacrifices and love and mission and fundamental choices. A film about a world, remembering Fanny och Alexander , being, at the level of tone, more sweet but remaining interesting, for the impressive cinematography, than for precise adaptation .

An intelligent, very well made story of love and conflict across a number of years in early 20th century Sweden.

Written by Ingmar Bergman, it feels like one of his films, if perhaps slightly less brilliantly realized.

But the complex love and marriage of Henrik and Anna is always absorbing (if occasionally melodramatic), and these are both complicated, full individuals (and performances) heartbreaking one moment, infuriating and selfish the next.

Beautifully shot, acted with honesty and intensity, this 3 hour film captures just how hard it is for two people to be both themselves and a couple.

It is the very honesty and intelligence that I find so beguiling and compulsive about the now, late Ingmar Bergman, and this being the life- story of his parents. Sounds great, doesn't it? Like the vast majority I was veered toward the Great Swede director via The Seventh Seal and it surprises me still, that not only did I find time for all his lesser, more ordinary and sometimes rather depressing films, I was after everything he made and associated with. The only other three directors I have vowed to do this for are/were Federico Fellini, Stanley Kubrick and Billy Wilder.

'Normal' period drama i.e. British, probably because it's so commonplace and accepted and even pushed upon us - if we didn't watch Downton Abbey on TV, we felt almost chastised! doesn't move me much, possibly because by now, most of the popular novels and adaptations have been re-done so many times. However, I find it rather calming and enjoyable to look through the eyes of 19th C Swedish middle-class family life and as such, Bille August's direction and period detail is never less than 100% convincing.

The picture quality of the DVD is excellent, subtle yet full of life and texture. The ratio fills a standard widescreen format, so you get all of the picture. Compared to the rather poor transfer I have of Bergman's Scenes From A Marriage, this is near perfect. The score is simple yet sympathetic, too.

Bergman stalwart Max von Sydow is perfect as the grandfather and Permilla August (the director's wife) as Anna Bergman, to be Ingmar's mother. In some ways it helps to know of - and appreciate - the genius, yes, genius, that the couple went onto bear, but not essentially so as the story of young love but disapproving parents and society is a such a universal one that in fact it can be enjoyed by everyone.

Lastly, whilst I'm not complaining, my DVD is clearly marked as a 'PG' yet there is female topless nudity and subsequent mild sex scenes that's quite prevalent, especially near the start. Whilst children are very unlikely to watch this, especially alone, parents should know of this and whilst '15' is possibly too strong, especially for a more relaxed European film, a '12' would be more appropriate.