RIFLE RANGE BOY

Goodbye Again (Aimez-vous Brahms?, 1961) A movie made in Paris, as someone described it as typical of a French movie starring the restaurants and automobiles, involving Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Perkins (yes! Mr Norman Bates himself). It is a romantic drama which showcases the dilemma of a love of a cougar and its prey! It exposed Perkins' acting ability to earn him the Best Actor's award in Cannes in 1961. Somehow, you cannot help but visualise him as an eccentric young man here too! Paula (Bergman) is a 40 year old interior decorator who feels that her biological clock ticking away as her partner of 5 years continue life as a swinging bachelor jumping from bed to bed. Like a good partner, Paula turns a blind eye to his philandering ways as he continues with his 'business' trips and returns to her as he feels like it. Paula gets an offer to decorate an American lady's apartment in Paris. Her son is a lazy spoilt brad who is in Paris for a short stint to learn ...

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...

Journey to Italy (1954) Director: Roberto Rosselini Continuing in her 'outcast' years in Italian neo-realism, Ingrid Bergman continues with another movie which essentially showcases what Naples has to offer to tourist - the villas, museums, the morbid past history and lazy pace of life. In this setting, Katherine and Alex (Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders), a British couple married for 8 years, drive to Naples to dispose off a deceased relative's property. We can see that they are undergoing a rough patch in their relationship. Their going to Italy and taking a long journey is their attempt at reconciliation and rekindling the spark. It obviously does not seem to be working. This uppity couple arrive in their Bentley driving through the country roads complaining about the bugs and unruly drivers. While waiting for a potential buyer, they mix with the upper crust of society, the rich, bourgeois and royalties. All that relaxing does not mend their relationship. On the co...

Europa '51 (Italian; 1952) Director: Roberto Rosselini I could never understand why my Aunt took upon herself to be the guardian of the homeless, the outcast and those shunned by their own families and society. I always thought that perhaps her only means of staying sane after going through a lot of upheavals in her life. Only at her funeral did I realise the extent her love touched so many hearts. In their books, she was a saint. This week also saw the passing of Malaysia's Champion of the Oppressed. She was always considered a trouble maker by the powers that be and even managed to put her behind bars. The fruit of her work, however, was only seen during her wake. There was no world leaders or novelties to bade her farewell but the immigrants and the small men of the society, the very people she was fighting for. This film acted beautifully by Ingrid Bergman during her exile days in Italy gives a possible explanation on why people do the things that they do. Irene Gira...

Stromboli (1950) This neo-realistic Italian film sparked the affair between one of my favourite actresses and Italian director, Roberto Rossellini. This union ended with an out of wedlock baby, which ostracised Ingrid Bergman for years at the Hollywood level. A neo-realistic movie ( Neorealismo ) would be one where the location of the set is amongst the poor and its use of non-professional actors. Here, in Stromboli, the setting is among a fishing community living on an island with a volcano. Coincidentally, it actually erupted during the shooting. Even though it tells a story of a Lithuanian refugee who gets herself in a marriage of convenience to escape internment camp, it questions life and God at a deeper level. It narrates the harsh reality of getting hitched to someone totally different in values, beliefs, way of life, and how he lives. Karin (Ingrid Bergman) finds herself living in a depilated house on an island with active volcanic activity. Her neighbours are unfriendl...