A Lesson in Love (“En lektion i kärlek”)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Written by Ingmar Bergman
1954/Sweden
Svensk Filmindustri
First viewing/Hulu
“Like some wines our love could neither mature nor travel.”― Graham Greene, The Comedians
This Bergman comedy is an entertaining warm-up to Smiles of a Summer Night.
Much of the film takes place in flashbacks. David Erneman (Gunnar Björnstrand) is a gynecologist. The story begins with his farewell to the mistress he has been seeing for the last year. We then get a bit of their history via flashback.
Next David takes the train to Copenhagen on which he “happens” to share a compartment with Marianne (Eva Dahlbeck) his wife. He is trying to win her back following her discovery of his affair. We flashback to their first confession of love, a happy birthday celebration with her father, and Marianne’s discovery of the infidelity. With Harriet Andersson as the couple’s teenage daughter.
I could watch the two principals in anything I think. They both have the perfect light touch for comedy and deliver Bergman’s dialogue very well. I would describe the film as slight but charming. Just what the doctor ordered on some days.
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