The Silence (1963)
Two estranged sisters, Ester and Anna, and Anna's 10-year-old son, travel to a Central European country on the verge of war. Ester becomes seriously ill and the three of them move into a large hotel in a small town called Timoka. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Ingmar Bergman
Written By: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Ingrid Thulin, Gunnel Lindblom, Birger Malmsten, Lissi Alandh, Jörgen Lindström, Birger Lensander, Eduardo Gutiérrez, Leif Forstenberg, Karl-Arne Bergman, Eskil Kalling, Håkan Jahnberg, Kristina Olausson
Genre: Drama
AKA: Tystnaden
Country: Sweden
Where to Stream
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The Silence belongs to 61 collections
1. Criterion Collection (collaborative: moderated by caffe - 166 stars)
2. Roger Ebert: Great Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 80 stars)
3. boobs (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 51 stars)
4. Uncanny, Disturbingly Weird Films (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 41 stars)
5. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Scottathon - 39 stars)
6. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2010 revision) (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 32 stars)
7. New York Times' The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made (collaborative: moderated by theficionado - 31 stars)
8. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2014 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Jehan - 27 stars)
9. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2012 revision) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 25 stars)
10. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2017 revision) (collaborative: moderated by iconogassed - 22 stars)
11. Best of criticker: Drama (collaborative: moderated by avgcrtckr - 18 stars)
12. Lesbian (collaborative: moderated by Moribunny - 17 stars)
13. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2013 revision) (collaborative: moderated by rant1229 - 16 stars)
14. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2011 revision) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 14 stars)
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35. Solo Genital Stimulation (Female) (collaborative - 2 stars)
36. High contrast black and white cinematography (collaborative: moderated by juandr - 2 stars)
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40. Sight and Sound 2002 (Single Vote) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 1 star)
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Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 4 |  |
BillyShears | 70 53rd |
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Casually washing my hooters in the sink whistling about the silence of God while a troupe of midgets cartwheel around me. "WHAT DOES IT MEAN"
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| 4 |  |
Bown | 69 23rd |
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Bergman's vision of a world where God is silent (or perhaps never revealed himself at all) is almost like Bergman doing dystopia. Conceptually very interesting, but I can't say I was particularly enthralled; sometimes it just seemed weird for the sake of being weird. The hints of war were the more interesting parts of the film, for me.
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| 3 |  |
Magb | 85 73rd |
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True to its name, The Silence is indeed for the most part a quiet film. The language barrier between the Swedish main characters and the inhabitants of Whatever-country-they're-supposed-to-be-in are often mostly wordless, and much time is spent watching characters by themselves. The Silence really does feel like the emptiness left in the wake of "God's silence". It's almost nihilistic, which is discomforting when it's coming from Bergman. A powerful film, but a hard pill to swallow.
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| 3 |  |
djross | 84 94th |
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Bergman: "When you see THE SILENCE today, you have to admit that it suffers from a severe literary list [...] in two or three sequences. First and foremost, that is true in the confrontations between the two sisters. The tentative dialogue between Anna and Ester with which the film ends is also unnecessary. Other than that, I have no objections. [...] In THE SILENCE, Sven and I had decided to be uninhibitedly unchaste. It contains a cinematic sensuality that I still experience with delight."
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| 3 |  |
Spunkie | 85 97th |
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One of the most beautiful cinematography ever thanks to Nykvist. The film is emotionally destructive if you get too close.
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| 2 |  |
vesupria | 8 88th |
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Dark, gloomy, and chillingly melancholic; the nihilism of Bergman. As close as it gets to total desolation and utter despair. Here he doesn't find any need for a direct recourse to "God", just the silence of mankind's failed search for meaning in a universe devoid of (inherent) meaning. Attitudes, whether based on rabid materialism, or resolute principles, seem to encounter the same lonely fate of inevitable death. The eternally rotten core that youth must take from a saddening bite.
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| 2 |  |
KasperL | 55 39th |
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The penultimate scene is greatly discomforting viewing. I'll classify it with 'Cries and Whispers' in terms of shock value. Both films contain the power to disturb, no doubt about it, but that alone surely doesn't make them great! 'The Silence' left me cold. And disappointed. I guess I wanted more plot. On a technical level it's phenomenal, though.
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| 2 |  |
madderroot | 96 98th |
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great original screenplay.bergman says his original idea was to make a film that should obey musical laws, instead of dramaturgical ones.
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| 2 |  |
elmakebabi | 80 88th |
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You can't just sweep the dead under carpet!
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| 2 |  |
FunkyAstro | 95 97th |
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Bergman's spiritual dilemma. If I am devout then I am surrounded by immorality which will plague me with mental anguish and leave me frigid, judgmental and deadened, all alone with my principles. If I reject it all then I am doomed to live a selfish life of immorality which will manifest itself in immature self destructive tendencies, leaving me incapable of having meaningful relationships and indifferent to other's suffering. Why can't we just stay innocent kids forever and play with midgets?
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| 2 |  |
Yiannos | 80 92nd |
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The bleakest and most ambiguous film of Bergman's faith trilogy. Along with Persona, it's arguably his most visually accomplished work, featuring many extended scenes of no dialogue and an emphasis on space that are somewhat reminiscent of Antonioni. The characters have multiple sources of torment, and feelings of envy, resentment and callous disregard simmer and boil in explosive waves of tension that are never resolved; and the opening and closing scenes rank among Bergman's finest work.
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| 1 | running | 55 17th |
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oh so boring ...
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| 1 |  |
Moribunny | 70 75th |
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Bergman's mostly silent take on sibling rivalry, good but a pretty much middling effort in relation to the rest of his oeuvre.
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| 1 |  |
Alex Watkins | 3 38th |
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It's good, but it's too damned impenetrable at times; Bergman's movies, in my experience, usually lay their themes on the table, and he loves extensive character interaction. This film has neither, and instead relies on subtle visual cues and unspoken thoughts. The pace is too slow for its own good much of the time as well, and the movie has a number of inconsequential scenes. It feels like a movie Antonioni would've made, only not as well. But don't think I'm suggesting it's not worth a look.
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| 1 |  |
Farzan | 93 94th |
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With The Silence, Bergman shows us the relationship between two sisters, and how their differences affect both of them, and the son of one of them. It is definitely a magical piece of film, not accessible to everyone, but is definitely one to cherish if you are a fan of the theme, "family". The Silence is a perfect, heartbreaking, and yet realistic look at a family in crisis. The final chapter of the God's Silence trilogy, is one to watch, and one to admire forever.
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| 1 |  |
TedDedon | 91 87th |
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As usual, the direction of the actors is phenomenal and so is the writing, Bergman delivers yet another masterwork in his extensive career. The Silence is a subtle, dark movie depicting the distanced relationships family members can have; it's a quiet and dishearting movie that is easily recommendable to fans of Bergman's movies, especially the ones that deal with darker subject matter like hidden contempt for loved ones which is a relatively common theme in his movies.
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| 1 |  |
Mentaculus | 87 85th |
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The dystopic, impenetrable environment, complete with Charlie-Brown-adult-speak jibberish, only seems to magnify the fact that the obsessive problems of Bergman's characters are increasingly juvenile and stupid. That's Bergman's great paradox: whether you assume God's Silence (the original title) or God's Presence, both mindsets reveal your personal demons. And our attempts to justify our issues with pride only make matters worse. Sven's camerawork makes these dense ideas strangely tangible.
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| 1 | sellis | 93 93rd |
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Bergman tries to make an Antonioni film and, by doing so, makes possibly his greatest film. Wish he made more like this, even if its intention is unbearable nihilism.
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| 1 | LPhovercraft | 14 11th |
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One of Bergman's more pretentious and claustrophobic films. The film is laden with heavy-handed symbolism and banal dialogue.
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| 1 |  |
Seryxa | 25 43rd |
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Bergman may know what this was all about, but it's a certainty that no one else did; so everyone thought it must be very clever and went to see it. Superficially, as usual, it is careful and fascinating.
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| 1 |  |
wetwillies | 90 80th |
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I can't believe this was made in 1963. Of the films in Bergman's trilogy, this is the most difficult, a mysterious and haunting nightmare that's about sex and the end of the world. I barely understand it, but I am utterly fascinated by it; you leave just as confused as you began, but still utterly bewildered by what occurred on screen. The shot of the tank rolling through the city streets is perfection, a fantastic representation of all that this film provides.
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| 1 |  |
bolivar | 75 75th |
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extremely unlike any other bergman ive seen (so far). in fact it reminded me of polanskis repulsion and cul-de-sac. in the end the story is just plain uninteresting, however. nykvists camera work is always a joy to watch, though.
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| 1 |  |
roofs_runner | 92 89th |
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My first one by Bergman. I was impressed by the feeling of despair and loneliness that kills everything human inside our souls. I cannot say everything was accessible for me and it is absolutely my fault. Next time I guess I will be more prepared.
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| 1 |  |
billkerwin | 93 91st |
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Bergman at its sparsest and most uncomfortable. A bleak vision, expertly executed. Nykyst's black and white photography is even more beautiful than usual.
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| 1 |  |
glumpy_99 | 89 79th |
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Typically smouldering but highly emotional piece of cinema from Bergman, dealing with the intense, incestual (?) relationship between two sisters and young son/nephew. Interesting juxtaposition of playful whimsy as the boy explores the hotel, with scenes of startling sexual frankness (both for the 1960s and for Bergman) and intense suffering, foreshadowing CRIES AND WHISPERS. As usual, cinematography and performances are superb, especially Lindstrom as the boy and Jahnberg as a helpful porter.
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| 1 | Noam Raz | 70 70th |
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As if the leader of spiritual cult has been reborn and time has allegedly stopped. When truth is discovered, and daily routine is restored -
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| 1 |  |
eCitizen | 20 8th |
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Aside from the anticipation that I felt throughout this movie, very little story is developed. I am left wondering why the movie was made, and just what was the message it was trying to tell. This movie is also full of disconnected random scenes that had nothing to add except a diversion from the dramatic acting. I wanted to like this movie, and there was so much potential, but by the end I had only questions, and almost no answers.
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| 1 |  |
Vdecraim | 80 73rd |
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Bergman's films sometimes resemble a babbling river of emotions. A slow process that very meticulously reaches depths that only nature itself could reach. Sadly, the last two films in the 'Silence of God'-trilogy fail to resonate with my vision on life or my personal interests in the way Wild Strawberries did. Don't get me wrong, it's still a superb film, with magnificent pacing and fantastic cinematography/photography by the awe-inspiring Sven Nykvist.
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| 1 |  |
le mami | 55 45th |
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Hayatımı Bergman filmlerine düşük puan vererek kazanıyorum xd
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| 1 |  |
k177105 | 82 64th |
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The superego and the id, or one sticking to chastity for the infinite and the other going after finite pleasure in response to the question of nihilism driving the infinite pursuit. Woody Allen: "...both women in 'The Silence' are really only two warring aspects of one woman."
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| 1 |  |
JPFerguson | 90 94th |
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This is a film about bodies; the sick body, the sexual body and the infant body. But more than this, the body in motion and the emissions of the body (physical, emotional and spiritual). The use of sound is an equal match for the visual power of the vastness of the hotel corridors. The two sisters, young boy (son) and the porter make for an odd but compelling foursome. Rating may increase on further viewings.
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| Average Percentile 71.29% from 1210 Ratings |  |