The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute (Trollflöten)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Written by Ingmar Bergman from the libretto of Emanuel Schikaneder
1975/Sweden
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Criterion Channel

Sarastro: The radiant sun overpowers the night, And darkness surrenders to wisdom and light…

Ingmar Bergman makes one masterpiece out of another.

The story takes place in the land of myths and fairy tales.  Our hero Tamino is on a quest to find the meaning of life and true love.  He fights a dragon and faints while three Ladies-in-Waiting to the Queen of the Night slay the beast.  When they see the comely youth, they know he will be perfect for a mission highly desired by the Queen. Soon we also meet the bird-catcher Papageno, a comic coward whose quest is merely for a wife.

Pamina is the daughter of the Queen of the Night.  The Ladies come back with a locket containing Pamina’s portrait and Tamino knows at once where his quest is leading him. If Tamino can rescue Pamina from Sarastro, who has captured her, she will be his bride. The Queen provides a magic flute to use in case of emergency.  The very reluctant Papageno is ordered to accompany Tamino and is given a set of magic bells.  Finally a hot air balloon arrives bearing three little boys who will give him advice throughout the story.

Papageno finds Pamina before Tamino does and they run off to look for him.  When Tamino meets Sarastro he turns out to be a righteous god-like High Priest who rules in connection with a Brotherhood.  Tamino will need to go through three scary trials of wisdom to prove himself worthy to join the Brotherhood and wed Pamina.

When the Queen gets wind of this, she vents her fury in an unbelievable aria and orders Pamina to kill Sarastro.  Pamina is unwilling.

Papageno is promised a bride if he will accompany Tamino on these trials.  The number one ground rule is particpants must remain silent.  The very frightened Papageno fails at this miserably.  But Tamino passes the first two trials and will go through the third with Pamina.  Will Tamino complete his quest?  How will Papageno ever find a bride?

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy Mozart’s glorious opera. Bergman strikes the perfect balance between the theatrical and the cinematic. It’s a primal hero’s quest story with quite a bit of comedy thrown in. The film was made for Swedish TV and is sung in Swedish by some fantastic singers. Bergman spends the overture with the audience studying faces, including faces of some of his usual players, reacting to the music. Highly recommended to opera lovers, Bergman completists, and anyone looking for something unique and moving.

The Magic Flute was nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar.

The Queen of the Night orders Pamina to kill Sarastro  – no subtitles