Description:
Distinguished lawyer Frederik Egerman lives with Anne, his picturesque young wife, his son Henrik, a forlorn student of the cloth, and Petra, the flirtatious yet sensible maid. One summer evening Frederik takes Anne to see a play starring his former lover Desirée, the veteran actress with an equally seasoned reputation. With her glamorous stage entrance and one inviting smile, she sparks the lives of the parties involved into a game of love and loyalty that barely masks each player’s percolating insecurities. Through witty dialogue, theatrical direction, and an ensemble cast including Gunnar Bjornstrand, Eva Dahlbeck, Harriet Andersson and Ulla Jacobsson, director Ingmar Bergman delivers a raw exhibition of human desire. Winner of the 1956 Grand Prix for Best Comedy at the Cannes Film festival, Smiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens leende) displays Bergman’s comedic skill and marks his breakthrough success internationally.
Special Features:
- New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound
- Video introduction to the film by director Ingmar Bergman
- New video conversation with film historian Peter Cowie and producer Jörn Donner (Fanny and Alexander) about Bergman’s breakthrough success with Smiles of a Summer Night
- New piece by renowned theater and film critic John Simon, author of Ingmar Bergman Directs
- Swedish theatrical trailer
- Essay by film critic Pauline Kael
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition