Cries and Whispers

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Cries and Whispers

R

Released Dec 21, 1972

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

As Agnes (Harriet Andersson) slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so deeply immersed in their own psychic pains that they can't offer her the support she needs. Maria (Liv Ullmann) is wracked with guilt at her husband's suicide, caused by his discovery of her extramarital affair. The self-loathing, suicidal Karin (Ingrid Thulin) seems to regard her sister with revulsion. Only Anna (Kari Sylwan), the deeply religious maid who lost her young child, seems able to offer Agnes solace and empathy.

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Critics Consensus

Visually stunning and achingly performed, Ingmar Bergman's chamber piece is a visceral rumination on death and sisterhood.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

There’s a dullness at the heart of the movie, and the allegorical scheme leads to scenes that recall the conventions of silent films and the clichés of second-rate movie acting.

Sep 29, 2023

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Bergman is simultaneously at his most brilliant and most brutal in this unforgiving 90-minute psychodrama...

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2022

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

This film burns, like ice held to the skin.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 31, 2022

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

For an endless rumination on human suffering and fleeting connection, Cries and Whispers is a sumptuous, sensuous film.

Jul 12, 2025

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

I find it to be a finely tuned psychological drama, in which Bergman, with dense aesthetics, offers an intimate and oppressive portrait of suffering, death and femininity. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Oct 6, 2024

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

Maybe the "easiest" of Bergman's major films, blunt in its symbolism, literal in its dialogue, unmistakable in its style.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 24, 2020

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Luca D

A very haunting and disturbing depiction of death, and all of the drama and uncomfortable feelings that follow. The cinematography is great though the 1970s face zoom ins were pretty cheesy. The set and costume design is amazing. The acting is perfect. I like how this Bergman film is less about religion and more about reality. Would watch again definitely.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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Leaburn O

Sorry but that was just dull, with a few noteworthy scenes interspersed in the boredom. Generally I find Bergman hard to watch but a few of his pictures are bearable. This isn’t one of them and I don’t understand why it is so revered by film critics. Watched on SKY Cinema.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

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CodyZamboni

Movie starts off and ends strong, with an amazing use of the color red throughout. But my empathy for the characters went downhill as the movie progressed, as the characters started acting more wacky,

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

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Il B

CRIES AND WHISPERS depicts the tale of two sisters, who after spending years apart, reunite at their childhood home, where their sister’s health is diminishing every second. The two visiting sisters have a troublesome past and find it extremely difficult to communicate with each other. A lack of empathy from the two leaves the slowly and painfully dying sister’s maid, Anna, to be her only carer during her final hours. The film identifies grief, paranoia, mistrust, depression and fear. CRIES AND WHISPERS is a perfect depiction of the horror behind life and its meaning. This is easily one of Ingmar Bergman’s best works. The film is painful, upsetting, petrifying disturbing and perturbing to watch. It is easily one of the best depictions of illness in cinema.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/23

Full Review

Thomas V

This film is tough going, but in the best way. There's so much to unpack here, but the cinematography and use of color is brilliant. This is harsh subject matter, but well worth it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/23

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Audience Member

Love, love, love! This movie is my favorite from Bergman, it makes me feel so calm and happy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Ingmar Bergman

Director

Liv Ullmann

Maria (and her mother)

Harriet Andersson

Agnes

Ingrid Thulin

Karin

Kari Sylwan

Anna

Erland Josephson

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Synopsis

As Agnes (Harriet Andersson) slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so deeply immersed in their own psychic pains that they can't offer her the support she needs. Maria (Liv Ullmann) is wracked with guilt at her husband's suicide, caused by his discovery of her extramarital affair. The self-loathing, suicidal Karin (Ingrid Thulin) seems to regard her sister with revulsion. Only Anna (Kari Sylwan), the deeply religious maid who lost her young child, seems able to offer Agnes solace and empathy.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Producer: Lars-Owe Carlberg, Ingmar Bergman
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Distributor: New World Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Cinematograph AB, Svenska Filminstitutet
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1972, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Mono

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