Explore the works of Ingmar Bergman, Sweden's most influential film maker, with Professor Thomas Birnie.

Ingmar Bergman was one of the most influential film directors of all time, and his works have inspired a host of other filmmakers, including Woody Allen, whose reverence for Bergman is reflected in his own works. Bergman’s films evolved in several distinct stages over five decades and reverberate with psychological and philosophical themes that explore the depths of the human psyche.

This course will introduce participants to the major films of Bergman, beginning with his early productions in the 1950s and culminating half a century later. Among topics to be explored and discussed will be personal relationships, faith, identity, alienation and redemption.

All films are in Swedish, with English subtitles. Our workshop will be conducted as a series of informal sessions in which we view, learn about and discuss the works below:

September 29, Introduction: Crisis (1948)
October 6: Thirst (1948)
October 13: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
October 20: Hour of the Wolf (1968)
October 27: Autumn Sonata (1978)