Movie Reviews

‘Bergman Island’ Review: ‘A sort of two hour episode of a filmmaker student’s thesis on the decline of a marriage’

By Cassie Brown
November 15, 2021
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Plot Description: “A couple retreat to the island that inspired Ingmar Bergman to write screenplays for their upcoming films when the lines between reality and fiction start to blur.”

There’s an Island in Sweden that inspired some of the most prominent works from famous director, Ingmar Bergman. Don’t know him? He directed Seventh Seal, Scenes from a Marriage and other numerous classics that have scenes that would make you say, “oh yeah, that movie”. Bergman is regarded as possibly one of the best directors of all time. The landscape of his inspiration is the setting for the IFC film, Bergman Island.

Tim Roth and Vicky Kris star as the picture perfect, yet dysfunctional, filmmaking couple on a vacation, Chris and Tony. Both are using this little time away to Faro, the island that inspired Ingmar Bergman, as an inspirational outing to fuel their next projects. Writers block takes a back seat as Tony and Chris explore the weirdly themed Bergman expeditions the town offers (a Bergman safari, a Bergman trivia night and more). What lurks outside their picturesque windows don’t quite align with their ability to work though.

Chris finds herself in the middle of a possible romance, meeting a film student on her own solo expedition. She uses this meet cute as a chance to find a plot line in her screenplay, finally outlining it to Tony on a walk around the island. The screenplay pitch turns into a little film within the film, starring Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie, as two ex-lovers who rekindle their romance on Faro.

The rest of Bergman Island is a bit confusing. I don’t quite know what happens. All of a sudden I found myself wondering if there was an eighth seal I was missing (that’s a Bergman joke, you should be able to make those after watching this). The film itself was infused with the warm neutral tones of a sea side little village mixed with a very chic sense of assuming this film may turn into a horror at any moment. I sort of got a wine tasting retreat meets a potential breakdown romance movie where there’s little to no romance in it.

Bergman Island is more or less a sort of two hour episode of a filmmaker student’s thesis on the decline of a marriage, while also explaining their love of Bergman. It was a little too self aware. But I love seeing Tim Roth. Yet nothing really redeemed anything for me. Everyone seemed to be exhausted reading their lines and sort of made me a bit sleepy. Bergman Island might be a good rainy day, potential nap in the wings, film if I’ve ever seen one.

Final Thoughts?

I wanted to understand what was going on in this film, but I couldn’t quite grasp at the Bergman they were trying to sell me. Who? What? Is this couple in love or just merely tolerating each other to enjoy a vacation? I didn’t find any easter eggs, I didn’t make any connections. I sort of watched this two films in one, yet one film, film and went “okay”. I don’t know if I’d book a trip to this island any time soon but it was a nice pit stop.

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