Das Schlangenei (1977)

Das Schlangenei: Directed by Ingmar Bergman. With Liv Ullmann, David Carradine, Gert Fröbe, Heinz Bennent. Berlin, 1923. Following the suicide of his brother, American circus acrobat Abel Rosenberg attempts to survive while facing unemployment, depression, alcoholism and the social decay of Germany during the Weimar Republic.

“Fear, Loathing, and Despair in Berlin, November 1923u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film universally considered u0026quot;the masteru0026#39;s failureu0026quot; but I donu0026#39;t agree with the statement. It is very different from the rest of Bergmanu0026#39;s films Iu0026#39;ve seen but that does not make it failure for me. It is only Bergmanu0026#39;s second film in English and it boasts an unusual for his films large budget (Dino De Laurentis was a producer) with enormous and elaborate sets. Bergman was able to recreate on the screen Germany (Berlin) of 1920th exactly how it was seen in the films of 1920th German directors – Fritz Langu0026#39;s films come to mind first. Another film that The Serpentu0026#39;s Egg reminded me of was Bob Fosseu0026#39;s Cabaret – the theme of the Feast during the Time of Plague sounds very prominent in both films, and the cabaretu0026#39;s musical numbers in Bergmanu0026#39;s film couldu0026#39;ve came from Fosseu0026#39;s. I was very impressed by Liv Ullmannu0026#39;s singing and dancing in the beginning of the film – she can do anything.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn spite of the filmu0026#39;s obvious differences from Bergmanu0026#39;s earlier work, it explores many of his favorite themes. It is in part a political film about the helpless, distressed and terrorized members of society that face the merciless and inevitable force of history and are perished without a trace in the process. Also like the earlier films, The Serpentu0026#39;s Egg explores its charactersu0026#39; self-isolation, inability to communicate, their attempt to cope with the pain of living, their despair, fear, and disintegration.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Serpentu0026#39;s Egg may not be a perfect film and a lot has been said about the abrupt and heavy handed ending, the dialogs that donu0026#39;t always work, and David Carradineu0026#39;s performance as a main character. Perfect or not, I think it is an interesting, visually always amazing (cinematography by Sven Nykvist is above any praise) and very honest and thorough study of the human condition in the unbearable situation. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the documentary u0026#39;Serpentu0026#39;s Egg: Away From Homeu0026#39; (2004), Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullmann and David Carradine talk about making the film, how it started and how and why it was so different. Liv said that couple of years ago she and Bergman had seen The Serpentu0026#39;s Egg for the first time, and they both liked it. I am in a good company, then, because I believe that Serpentu0026#39;s Egg is an unforgettable film and everyone who was involved in making it should not be ashamed of it. I am yet to see a Bergmanu0026#39;s film that I donu0026#39;t like.”