Autumn Sonata Movie Review

Autumn Sonata [Höstsonaten] (1978)

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Written by: Ingmar Bergman
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Lena Nyman
Rated: PG
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Plot
A married daughter who longs for her mother's love is visited by the latter, a successful concert pianist.

Verdict
A meditation on how relationships twist and turn. A mother's neglect leaves a lasting impact. This is a slower movie that reveals it's story with expressions and what's not said. That does give the actors a chance to emote, but this is a character study that's not trying to hit the major plot points to wrap up the story.
It depends.

Review
A concert pianist, Charlotte, was always too busy for her family. Her daughter Eva never felt loved. When Charlotte did pay attention to Eva it was to fix her, providing better clothes, paying for braces, etc. It was never love in the sense of time and acceptance.

Liv Ullman and Ingrid Bergman play Eva and Charlotte.

Due to the strained relationship they haven't talked in years. From their first interactions you get the sense that Charlotte likes to one up others. That's part of the rift. Charlotte can't just accept Eva, she has to show her how to do it better.

Eva is taking care of  her disabled sister Helena. Charlotte doesn't realize that at first and makes disparaging remarks. When Charlotte discovers Helena is in the house, what she says to Helena has a very different tone. Charlotte doesn't seem like she was much of a mother. It appears she felt family was a burden.

This is a very slow movie, but it gives the actors a chance to actually act. The camera lingers on their faces and we get to see actions and reactions. We see movements and ticks that communicate more than words.

Mother and daughter get to hear the other side of the story, not that it changes anything. Charlotte was a mother that never really loved. She gets to hear Eva's pain during childhood, but she can't change that now. I imagine that since Eva was so different from Charlotte, Charlotte just couldn't relate.Those formative years have had a lasting impact on Eva. Charlotte never realized because she's so self centered.

Eva didn't know love as a child and doesn't know love now. That's apparent in her relationship with her husband. This movie hits a raw and emotional note. If you grew up with a parent like this, I'm sure it would hit hard.