Brink of Life (Nära livet)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Written by Ulla Isaksson
1958/Sweden
Inter-American Productions/Nordisk Tonefilm
First viewing/You Tube
[box] Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one. — Gloria Steinem [/box]
Bergman looks at the emotions of three expectant mothers.
As the story begins, Cecilia (Ingrid Thulin) arrives at the obstetric ward bleeding heavily. She has already lost her baby, two months into the pregnancy and has a D&C. The entire experience has convinced her that she is unworthy to be a wife or a mother and that her proper schoolteacher husband doesn’t love her or want the baby. She is basically an emotional wreck.
Cecilia joins two other women on the ward. The first is teenaged unwed mother Hjordis Petterson (Bibi Andersson), who also had bleeding but did not miscarry – much to her dismay. The second is Stina Andersson (Eva Dahlbeck) who is in labor with her first son and is positively radiant and ecstatic. We follow the stories of these women and their interactions with each other. With Max Von Sydow as Stina’s smiling, upbeat husband.
It’s a real pleasure to see these three wonderful actresses play off each other. Bergman, as usual, cuts to the heart of the matter. There’s a lot of sadness but the film ends on a life-afirming note.
