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Buy Ansiktet aka The Magician Movie. Watch online or Download
7.7
Genres are Dr Produced in 1958, Sweden
Available Quality: iPod, Hi Def, Hi Def
Rating: 7.7 out of 10 (2960 votes)
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480x368 | 354 MiB |
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852x640 | 914 MiB |
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1440x1080 | 8131 MiB |
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| Actors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Max von Sydow | Erland Josephson | Ingrid Thulin | Bibi Andersson |
| Gunnar Björnstrand | Naima Wifstrand | Bengt Ekerot | |
| Directors | |||
| Ingmar Bergman | |||
Storyline
Plot Summary:
When Voglers Magnetic Health Theater comes to town, theres bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Voglers prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) request that their troupe provide them a sample of their act, before allowing them public audiences. The scientific-minded disbelievers try to expose them as charlatans, but Vogler and his crew prove too clever for them.
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straiton
22 May 2012
satisfying on many levels a reflection on Bergamn as illusionist
Many people may have missed the satisfaction of reading the extra layerof meaning in this film: that the "magician" is the the filmmaker orvisa versa, in this case Bergman himself. Without giving anything ofthe plot away, I can say that The Magician is a reflection on Bergamn'srole as a creator of illusions. He uses the story of a rovingtheatrical troupe with an magician to illuminate the metaphor. Theapparently abrupt turn of events at the end is Bergman's signal that heis the master of your perceptions in this medium, that he compares tothe experience of dreaming. It is interesting to compare this film with Fellini's 8 1/2, anotherfilmmaker's reflection on the process and meaning of film-making. Twovery different sensibilities are at work in these two films, but withsurprisingly close parallels in their endings, and involuted plots. I found this film highly satisfying on many levels, even taken at itsapparent face value, as a romp. Seen a second time the illusionistbegins to emerge more clearly, from the moment the film opens, with thelighting of the arc lamp of a film projector.
pontus-13
22 May 2012
Magical cinema
A wonderful film about Emanuel Vogler and his Magnetic health theater thatare forced to put up a magical show in front of a sceptical crowd lead bythe scientist Vergérus (another member of the Vergérus family, known fromother Bergman films). Max von Sydow plays Emanuel Vogler, the tormentedartist putting his faith in art and Gunnar Björnstrand the dissecting,denying scientist Vergérus.It's said that Emanuel Vogler is based on Bergman himself, Vergérus on theSwedish film critic Harry Schein and Manda Vogler on Inrid Thulin.Still waiting for this and other Bergman films to be released onDVD.10/10
Hitchcoc
22 May 2012
Were on Stage with the Magician!
I'm slowly making my way through the Bergman canon (thank you Netflix)and am having a ball. I saw this film about forty years ago and forgothow captivating it is. Things are not as they seem anywhere in thismovie. People die and come back to life, some can speak and then theycan't. It has great villains and an incredible cast. Of course, it'sthe story of a group of traveling showmen who arrive at the home ofsome wealthy people. They are seen as an inferior class and are forcedto grovel before they can earn their livings. They participate inbyplay with those who have come to see them (some from the localvillage), including he servants. There is sexual activity and a lot ofmanipulation. When the actual magic show begins, we are in on some ofthe tricks, but others are unexplainable. These people seem able to acton the minds of the characters and get them to expose their dirtysecrets. But, as we see, there are other forms of magic, not just thedark kind. Watch this a couple of times. You won't be disappointed.
Claudio Carvalho
21 May 2012
A Great Duel Between Science and Magic
In 1846, the Albert Emanuel Vogler (Max Von Sydow) and his magnetichealth theater is moving in a coach to Stockholm, escaping from theaccusation of charlatanism. By the way, they find a very sick drunkenman on the road and give a lift to him. The drunk wants to die, torelease his spirit from the spoiled body. The man dies along thejourney. Near the border, they are forced to present their show to agroup of skeptical persons, leaded by the local chief of police, theconsul and the scientist Vergérus (Gunnar Björnstrand) and theirfamilies. There is a great confrontation between magic and science.This movie has a great performance of the whole cast and a great blackand white photography. The story, about reality x illusion, is veryattractive. The VHS released by the Brazilian distributor Continentalis a shame. It seems to be filmed from an English projection, havingblack stripes covering the English subtitles and trembling image.Unfortunately, this is the unique option I have in Brazil to possesssuch a film in my collection. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): 'O Rosto' ('The Face')
John
19 May 2012
definitely not bergmans best and a hypocritical message, but still great
ingmar bergman is, to me at least, one of the greatest directors of alltime, but the ending of this one crushed me. obviously he's trying tomakea comment on reality/illusion, as in all his films, but why take a shot atthe aesthetic irrationality and maybe uncritical nature of the artist whenbergman was himself an artist of first rank? that may sound likecategorical complacency on my part, but i couldn't believe that bergmanfinished the movie by unmasking sydow's character as a money grubbingcharlatan and the scientist as 'the wise one', who saw through it (for themost part) the entire time. of course all this is only my interpretation,but i pretty much sense bergman meant something like what i'm saying, anditis both puzzling and frustrating. most great artists may be lacking in theanalytical faculty as sydow's 'magician' clearly is (while he ispretending)in this one, but without that passion for the imaginative and theirrationalthere really can't be art at all. the dissecting scientist is, no matterhow much more intellectual integrity or 'noble' skepticism he may havethanthe artist, the antithesis of inspiring and affirmative (and there is asense in which even pessimistic and despairing art can be affirmative, asnietzsche said many times)which all art should aspire, in one form oranother, to be. the whole thing seems like a pretentious house of cards,considering that the considerable and undeniable appeal of bergman's worklies for the most part in his flair for the unspoken, the unconscious, the*irrational*. don't get me wrong, you might even call me an orthodox'bergmanian' in that i find most of his work beyond criticism andabsolutelymasterful, but i just can't get behind 'the magician', although i may beintellectualizing too much. and to the movie's credit,it maintains astrongatmosphere and becomes impossible to stop watching halfway through, likenearly every film bergman made. don't watch it, buy it, but be a *little*wary of the veeeery contradictory message the movie tries to convey.
flipshoes
18 May 2012
One of Bergmans weaker efforts
I appreciate Bergman's mastery of cinema very much, especially hisinimitable ways of story-telling, together with the splendidphotography of Gunnar Fischer or Sven Nykvist, and - always - amagnificent cast of first-rate actors. Undoubtedly, "Wild Strawberries"or "The Seventh Seal" are classics of world cinema.And with regard to the cast and cinematography, "The Magician" is noexception to this appreciation. - However, I do feel a bituncomfortable each time a touch of humour comes up in Bergman films. Inmy humble opinion, these movies mostly haven't aged so well - be itthat our sense of humour has changed over the past 50 years, be it thatBergman's humour might seem a bit forced, in the first place. Myoverall impression of "The Magician" is that of a fairly heterogeneousmovie with a tremendous beginning, then with several changes of mood(and BTW large plot holes, as well), and finally a rather unfittingending. In my opinion (I truly hate to say so): one of Bergman's weakerefforts.
JohnRouseMerriottChard
17 May 2012
I didnt die, but I haunt the living.
Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater rolls into town and is promptlysummoned for a meet with the town big wigs. Hoping to expose allinvolved in the theatre as charlatans, the disbelievers request apersonal show before allowing the show to go public. With veryinteresting results.There is a belief amongst many Ingmar Begman fans that Ansiktet {TheMagician} is far too accessible a piece to be considered one of hisgreatest pieces. And whilst it does find Bergman more easy tounderstand for the casual viewer, it's however still complex enough tothrill and niggle the mind in equal measure. Taking two factors that hevery much adored, masks and magic, Bergman threads them off intovarious directions, and in the process testing us the audience as tojust what to expect from the story. The mysterious wonder of it all isnaturally aided by Bergman's use of light and shadowy trickery, symbolsloom heavy without dampening the theme on offer, with nothing of courseactually quite being as it seems.As is normally the case under the master director, the cast areuniformally strong. With Gunnar Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulinparticularly standing out. But really this is all about tricks andideas relating to magic and its blending in with reality. So much sothat with the end comes an awakening that we the audience are indeedprops in one of Bergman's shows, and that can never be a bad or even anaccessible thing.A fascinating picture from a very fascinating director. 8/10
planktonrules
17 May 2012
a Bergman film thats not depressing or about death!
I've seen a lot of Ingmar Bergman films and sometimes I don't want tosee one of his films about death or mental illness. Well, starting inthe 1960s to the 1980s, these were the main themes of his movies, butin some of his earlier films, these are not so pervasive--such as themovies The Devil's Eye (a comedy) and The Magician ("Ansiktet").Because of this, they may be more approachable to the average viewerwho would balk at the much more serious tone of such classics asThrough a Glass Darkly (deep depression), Persona (mental illness),Autumn Sonata (repressed anger and abandonment), The Seventh Seal(death and the plague) or Fanny and Alexander (child abuse andemotional neglect).The story is about a traveling group of hoaxters who put on a showcombining magic and "animal magnetism" (i.e., an early name given tohypnosis). When they arrive at a Swedish town, they are forced to cometo an audience with the local official and his cronies who want toprove that the act is a fraud. Bergman really doesn't try to resolvethis issue, but instead shows how the town officials are really ratherpetty and mean people. How this traveling group deftly survives thisencounter is the main focus of the movie. I especially liked theportion of the movie about the autopsy. It sounds gross, but I thoughtit was actually kind of funny. One of the officials is a cold andrather nasty doctor who longs for a chance to do an autopsy on thehypnotist. He gets far more than he bargains for--that's all I reallywant to say--otherwise it might ruin the suspense.So, overall I liked the movie. It was not great but well acted and notthe least bit depressing.
ian_harris
13 May 2012
Surprisingly Superb
I didn't expect to like this movie, given its period, headline subjectmatter etc. But don't let those factors put you off, there is real depthand some top notch scenes in this surprisingly superb movie. Max von Sydow, Gunner Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin are three of Bergman'smost consistent quality performers and all three have major roles in thisfilm. There are a fair number of stereotypical character parts, mostlyperformed by ensemble quality character actors. Bibi Andersson is capableof far more than her giggly girl part enables her to show in this film. Indeed, there is some comedic material in this film reminiscent of Smiles ofa Summer Night, but don't mistake this movie for one of Bergman's lessmasterful light pieces, this has real depth and substance.There are some amazing bits of cinematography, especially the early scenes. The pacing of the movie is masterful, as is the clever use of parallels inthe story - the failed actor "dying" and then reviving is a prelude to thepivotal incident around Vogler's "demise".Top notch scenes include Mrs Egerman opening up to Vogler - she seems solost - also both scenes in which Bjornstrand's character (Vergerus) insiststhat he was not taken in by the "magic".This is now in my Bergman top 5, which makes it a "must see" in mybook.
yabullar
13 May 2012
Religious symbolism in Ansiktet (The Magician)
Most of Ingmar Bergman's films are meant to titillate the intellect.The Magician is no exception. It is rich with symbolism. I think itranks right up there with "Death in Venice" on the list ofmisunderstood movies.I believe the most rewarding level of meaning in "The Magician" is thereligious one. Bergman was often concerned with the implications ofreligious beliefs. And almost always from the attitude of doubt.Consider the lines in The Seventh Seal where the vicious monk, annoyedwith the knight's persistence, asks, "Will you never stop askingquestions?" and the knight replies resolutely, "No. Never."Watching this movie with the idea of Vogler as Jesus provides aperspective that informs the characters and their conduct. Thismelancholy magician, doubted and persecuted by the powerful, surroundedby strange and suspicious persons, is simultaneously visionary andearthy flesh and blood. He only wants to perform his miracles for themasses. Or is he a charlatan? What a powerful way to pose thatquestion.
sol-
11 May 2012
My brief review of the film
An appropriately mysterious Gothic tale with fascinating characters,who may or may not actually possess certain powers, the material isenvisioned well by Ingmar Bergman, with careful attention to lightingdesign, and the acting is superb. Max Von Sydow is given the mostintriguing part to play, and he pulls it off well, but Ingrid Thulinand Naima Wifstrand both deserve mentions for breathing life into theirfey characters too. The film is about illusions ultimately, and thosewho are too critical to suspend their disbelief. It is a bit hardthough interpreting exactly what Bergman intended by some of theoddities that he has placed in, such as dispersing poison to a youngman. Are these attempts to add humour to the tale? Even with these oddinclusions and rushed ending that is a let down, it is quite asatisfying film overall. The music is great, the acting is excellent,and the interesting characters help make this film one of Bergman'smost intriguing pieces.
Tim Kidner
11 May 2012
Light Bergman?
Some reviewers have set themselves out to compare The Magician squarelyagainst Ingmar's previous two masterpieces, The Seventh Seal and WildStrawberries and mark The Magician down, unfairly. It almost cannot bepossible to attain the dizzy heights of adulation of those two and assuch, we are treated something lighter and possibly, more enjoyable.Mr Bergman, in his long illustrious career covered many types ofsubjects. Starting with straightforward and rather dull dramas, throughkitchen-sink (Ikea style?!!) and onto the darker shades of humanpsychology. And beyond, sometimes.The Seventh Seal succeeded due to its extraordinary storytelling andimagery - along with just about everything else. Wild Strawberries dueto its poignancy and leading performances that resonated with a senseof recognition and support in its audience. Other titles offer dark,deep blackly brooding death obsessed monologues that brush againstexquisite period dramas of superb detail and cinematography.The Magician, though has always been one of my favourites. Neithercomedy nor horror film but light, often humorous drama that touchesupon the Wonder in us all. We all want to see behind a master ofillusion and the mixture of nostalgia, set in the comparativelyfairytale setting of Scandinavia. I almost find it more akin to ConanDoyle than the witch- hunting or almost unfathomable symbolisms foundin many other Bergman's. As Bergman is one of my favourite directors of all time, warts and alland have 47 of his films I'd say this has much to offer, both to fanssuch as myself as well being good family entertainment that strengthenshis cinematic arsenal, not weakens it.
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