(1968; b/w, Swedish, subtitles) Rebels have been waging a civil war against the government for several years in director/writer Ingmar Berman's bleak film of disloyalty.

Formerly musicians with the philharmonic orchestra before its dissolution, Eva (Liv Ullmann) and Jan Rosenberg (Max von Sydow), who have been married for seven years, have resided on an island for the past four years, remote and isolated from the mainland's conflict, symbolized by their visit on the mainland to an antiques shop whose owner has been drafted into service. Eva accuses Jan of being a selfish escapist; he says he's not a determinist, that people are capable of a complete change of character.

She wants to have a child, hoping children will bring a new beginning to their relationship. Without a functioning radio or telephone, unaware of recent developments, they are astonished when rebel paratroopers land near their home; suddenly the conflict becomes a conflagration all around them, killing their neighbors. Sensitive, unable to kill a chicken by chopping off its head or even shooting it, Jan suffers from a weak heart; Eva calls him a coward: "Pull yourself together." Soon after the invasion, the "liberators" surround the Rosenbergs' house and interview Eva on camera for propagandistic purposes. She tells Jan she no longer wants to bear a child in this environment.

"What happens when the one who dreamed us wakes up and feels ashamed?" she asks Jan. Government troops gather up suspected collaborators, including a music conductor, a newspaper editor, a religious minister, and the couple. Jacobi, an official, apologizes and releases them after their being treated roughly. After their portion of the island appears to have been pacified, Jacobi becomes a regular visitor to their home, bringing gifts - a radio, a ring, a musical recording; Jan and Eva argue, accusing each other of fawning over Jacobi.

The discord of their marriage is furthered when Jacobi takes liberties with Eva, giving her his life savings in exchange for her affection. The rebels under the leadership of Filip Olsson, from whom Eva used to purchase fish, arrive, taking Jacobi into custody. Jacobi begs Eva to return the money, which she had left on the bed where Jan found it, to pay his ransom; when Eva asks Jan about the money, he denies any knowledge of it. The rebels destroy the Rosenbergs' home, and Jan, whose heart has hardened, becomes capable of murder.

The film begins with Jan's telling Eva of a dream of a time and place removed from war and ends with Eva's telling him of her dream of a beautiful wall of roses on fire while her child clings to her.

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Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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