30 review for Ingmar Bergman: A Critical Biography

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Henry Sturcke – May 17, 2015

   As I understand it, this was the first full treatment of Bergman and his films to appear in English. Apparently there was a second, revised edition, but I'm reading the 1982 (Secker & Warburg) original, because that's the edition in the local library. I have learned things about the director's life, some of them helpful for better understanding his films. But I'm constantly struck by how amateurish the writing is. Poorly constructed sentences. Non sequiturs. Lack of expansion of points that cry As I understand it, this was the first full treatment of Bergman and his films to appear in English. Apparently there was a second, revised edition, but I'm reading the 1982 (Secker & Warburg) original, because that's the edition in the local library. I have learned things about the director's life, some of them helpful for better understanding his films. But I'm constantly struck by how amateurish the writing is. Poorly constructed sentences. Non sequiturs. Lack of expansion of points that cry out for amplification, while at other times belaboring a point beyond the obvious. It reads in places like the quickly-typed notes one makes in preparation for a first draft. Don't know if any of these issues were addressed in the next edition. Sorry to be so negative, but given the reputation of the author, I was expecting better.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Scott Nye – May 24, 2018

   A solid overview, a foundation for everything else that’s come since. Too brief, though, and too reverent.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Peter Ruark – May 09, 2019

   For me, this was a case of reading the perfect book at exactly the right time. I had just begun exploring Ingmar Bergman's work in 2001 rather intensely, watching five of his films within a week. It began with hearing a Woody Allen reference to Bergman in one of his movies and my remembering that I had been meaning to watch more of his work, having only seen The Seventh Seal. I checked out The Virgin Spring from the video rental shop one evening, noticing they had about ten other Bergman titles For me, this was a case of reading the perfect book at exactly the right time. I had just begun exploring Ingmar Bergman's work in 2001 rather intensely, watching five of his films within a week. It began with hearing a Woody Allen reference to Bergman in one of his movies and my remembering that I had been meaning to watch more of his work, having only seen The Seventh Seal. I checked out The Virgin Spring from the video rental shop one evening, noticing they had about ten other Bergman titles as well, and was so taken with it that I returned right after watching it and checked out The Seventh Seal to re-watch that evening and Autumn Sonata to watch the next evening. A couple evenings later I watched Hour of the Wolf and the following evening The Silence, and decided after those two intensely dark films that I needed to take a little break from watching Bergman and actually learn more about him and the films I had watched and set them in context. Cowie's book was perfect for that. I eventually watched every film available at rental shops and the local libraries over the next couple of years, even over the course of moving to a different city, and Cowie's book greatly increased my appreciation for his work. The book contains many excellent photo stills which are themselves works of art, compliments of Gunnar Fischer and Sven Nykvist.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Dan Humphrey – Feb 06, 2013

   Still THE book to read first. I wish Cowie would write a second edition.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Joni – Oct 04, 2016

   some mumbling on the couch

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Joe –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Matthew –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Mickey Anthony –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Sean Wicks –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Josh –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Abelson –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Severine –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Amy James Freed –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Nathanael –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Pd –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    K. –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Tom –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    ambrose –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Jon –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Sairah –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Heather –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    nick mrb –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Chris –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Dennis Santaniello –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Kenneth –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Chris –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Kamyar –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Michy –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Landen Celano –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    B Palmer –