Ansiktet (1958)

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1. 

   TheMajor

   Wow. The acting, the lighting, the dialogue. This decent story is almost perfectly executed in my opinion. 12 years 11 months ago
2. 

   Louis Mazzini

   Brilliant movie! Bergman's most underrated. 11 years 8 months ago
3. 

   Siskoid

   When dealing with Ingmar Bergman, if you suspect a film is about examining faith in God, you're probably right. I don't suspect The Magician (I like the sound of the original title, Ansiktet) of being about that, I'm very confident it is. Compare the life of Christ with that of Max von Sydow's title character and the parallels play out playfully, if darkly. When a troupe of con men, mesmers, psychics and witches carriages into town, the police and the local atheist/doctor command a private performance to debunk the whole thing before allowing any kind of public spectacle. And from then on, we're witness to a play between what is real and what isn't, indeed pointing to nothing being real. Characters cross-dress and wear wigs, justify their actions by evoking the supernatural, and teeter between life and unlife. Those who most sincerely believe feel betrayed and angry by the end. Those who only play at believing are spared the anguish, and are more sympathetic to the show people. I liked figuring out the final trick just as it revealed itself too. And of course, Bergman's usual cast is excellent as always. 2 months 3 weeks ago

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