A comedy by Ingmar Bergman? Well to be fair, while Smiles is funny (the quips haven’t lost a bit of their bite), it also involves suicide, religious uncertainty, quasi-incest, unlikable characters — in sum, its still a thoroughbred Bergman film. He’s still finding his feet as a film director: some of the first act feels pretty stage bound and overly verbose. However the third act soars cinematically, Bergman guides his imperfect characters masterfully, bringing them to final destinations that are so snug they fit like lock and key. The best thing about Smiles is how little it has dated — it treats the characters and their frustrated sexuality with astonishingly human frankness. Savor the moment, this is about the best mood you’ll find Bergman in.
Rating: 8.5/10
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