If you take a shovel, and dig right into the middle, there are things you'll likely find, quite impossible to riddle, conundrums wrapped entwined, blind alleys, sacs that bind, confusion, chaos, mayhem all well signed; encompassing them all, is the fear of standing tall, of being seen to fall, of rejection all around, the desire to be found, the need to melt into the ground, just to live as if not bound; but you're moulded in their vision, taught to be so since incision, told what, where, when, who you are, plasters, shields overlay scars, behaviours born from who knows where, send your chaos to despair, no support for your constructions, can relieve these sad contortions.

If you don't recognise something in them in you, you're in denial.

In re-watching all the Bergman films, this one was a bit more elusive. There are so many secrets here with layer upon layer put over them. Then we have the subplot of the animal torturer and killer on the island. Probably most interesting beyond the story itself is a quick analysis of each character by each of the actors who leaves his or her role for a moment. They discuss how they view their people with a great deal of depth and insight. I wonder if they were prompted or it was extemporaneous. I would guess the latter. As with most Bergman characters, the people are doomed to their suffering and offer little comfort because they are so full of angst themselves. The living Andreas is a complex bundle of nerves. If he hadn't seen the animal killer and rescued the dog, I might have seen him as unbalanced enough to do these things, himself. Of course, the story never makes point, but the thought occurred to me. Anna is a royal mess but is able to keep her composure with those tight lips and that half smile. Pushed, she becomes a powder keg. As is usually the case, their personal problems are never solved and we wonder what the next frame in the film will be. It's quite a thoughtful and frightening film.

Andreas Winkelman (Max von Sydow) is a recluse living in an isolated farmhouse. He meets Anna Fromm (Liv Ullmann) who is mourning her losses. Eva (Bibi Andersson) and Elis Vergerus (Erland Josephson) are a neighboring couple. Someone is torturing animals. First, a puppy is left hanging and then sheep are senselessly slaughtered. There are inserted scenes of actors doing behind-the-scenes interviews to discuss their roles.

For Ingmar Bergman acolytes, this is a secondary work. Bergman is not really my thing. I see he's looking at humanity. In this one, it is violence and distress. These are perfect natural performances. They don't necessarily excite me although the animal cruelty jolts me with the shock of it. This is not for everyone. For cinephiles or more specifically Bergman fans, this is a box that needs to be checked.