Legendary director Ingmar Bergman creates a testament to the strength of the soul-and a film of absolute power. As Agnes slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so deeply immersed in their own psychic pains that they can’t offer her the support she needs. Maria is wracked with guilt at her husband’s suicide, caused by his discovery of her extramarital affair. The self-loathing, suicidal Karin seems to regard her sister with revulsion. Only Anna, the deeply religious maid who lost her young child, seems able to offer Agnes solace and empathy.
An intensely felt film that is one of Bergman’s most striking formal experiments, Cries and Whispers (which won an Oscar for the extraordinary color photography of Sven Nykvist) is a powerful depiction of human behavior in the face of death, positioned on the borders between reality and nightmare, tranquillity and terror.
Set over the period of a few days in the 19th century.
Starring Harriet Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin, Anders Ek.
In Swedish with English subtitles.
Rated R
Note: Called “grim but unforgettable,” this film is dark but is considered by most critics to be a masterpiece. You should be aware that it may be beautifully set and filmed, but that there are very graphic scenes that are hard to watch. You can get a sense of the film [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiUJ2b8pjc8).