The Magician (Ansiktet, a.k.a. The Face, Swedish; 1958)
Director: Ingmar Bergman
At first you wonder what the heck is happening. A group of travelling magicians are seen moving in a caravan back in the late 19th century Sweden. The leader of the team, Dr Vogler, an apparently mute magician has in his entourage, an assistant (an obviously lady masquerading as a man who later turned out to be his wife), a mysterious 200year old nanny, a stage coach driver, a helper named Tubal who actually just wants to settle down as a house husband are all mixed up in this hodge-podge of conmen who appear to be running from something.
As they go through a small town, they are stopped by police to be interviewed by a group of cynics. These cynics, The Police Superintendent, a doctor - an atheist and a man of science and a nobleman all interview them on the authenticity of their 'magic' acts.
The nobleman's wife is still mourning over the death of her son and was hoping to 'meet' her lost son through the magic man.
One by one the magician's antics was unravelled and the troop was humiliated.
The brooding Dr Vogler is also discovered not to be mute after all. The coach driver is hypnotised to kill Dr Vogler, so is everybody is made to think! The deceptive magician get the last laugh when he manages to frighten the living daylight of his detractors. He uses the body of another death man's body when the doctor decides to perform a post mortem! Can you imagine when he appears in flesh and blood?
In the end, events turn to a heady start. The magician is feted and glorified by the Swedish courts. They leave for the palace to be glorified.
You go on wondering... Who are these people, what are their relationship to each other? Then it strikes you! A person revered for his seemingly miraculous acts, awes many, is put to the test by sceptics, is killed and seen to arise from his death. He gives hope to others to anchor their trusts upon. He himself is sceptical of his capacities and thinks that everything is an illusion but gets glorified in the end. Does it not ring a bell?
Director: Ingmar Bergman
At first you wonder what the heck is happening. A group of travelling magicians are seen moving in a caravan back in the late 19th century Sweden. The leader of the team, Dr Vogler, an apparently mute magician has in his entourage, an assistant (an obviously lady masquerading as a man who later turned out to be his wife), a mysterious 200year old nanny, a stage coach driver, a helper named Tubal who actually just wants to settle down as a house husband are all mixed up in this hodge-podge of conmen who appear to be running from something.As they go through a small town, they are stopped by police to be interviewed by a group of cynics. These cynics, The Police Superintendent, a doctor - an atheist and a man of science and a nobleman all interview them on the authenticity of their 'magic' acts.
The nobleman's wife is still mourning over the death of her son and was hoping to 'meet' her lost son through the magic man.
One by one the magician's antics was unravelled and the troop was humiliated.
You go on wondering... Who are these people, what are their relationship to each other? Then it strikes you! A person revered for his seemingly miraculous acts, awes many, is put to the test by sceptics, is killed and seen to arise from his death. He gives hope to others to anchor their trusts upon. He himself is sceptical of his capacities and thinks that everything is an illusion but gets glorified in the end. Does it not ring a bell?
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