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Monika

R 1952 1h 36m Drama List
100% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Disillusioned young city-dweller Harry (Lars Ekborg) is frustrated with his societal responsibilities and his menial job, but when he meets sultry beauty Monika (Harriet Andersson), and she takes an interest in him, life takes on new meaning. Inflamed with passion, the lovers steal Harry's father's boat and give up their banal city life for an erotic summer spent on an island. There, Monika teaches Harry to give up his inhibitions, and all is good -- until Monika's true nature is revealed.

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Monika

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Manohla Dargis New York Times More than 50 years after its first screening in America, Monika arrives in New York again to light up the screen, this time without a trace of impropriety. Rated: 4/5 Nov 14, 2007 Full Review J. Hoberman Village Voice Bergman's tale of heedless teenage love is a sort of neorealist Rebel Without a Cause -- except that sex is acknowledged and the outlaw is a girl. Nov 13, 2007 Full Review Anthony Lane New Yorker Bergman would be no more adept a pornographer than he would be at filming hip-hop, but his camera did stare at the human surface with an intentness unmatched since von Sternberg rhapsodized over Marlene Dietrich. Jul 30, 2007 Full Review Jean-Luc Godard Arts (France) Summer With Monika is the most original film of the most original of directors. Sep 1, 2021 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Harriet Andersson's performance is a marvel, decidedly the best work by any actor in a Bergman film thus far. Rated: 4/5 Jul 12, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row Monika's piercing gaze, so full of defiance and inner turmoil, seems to dare the audience to judge her for her actions, while at the same time embodying a kind of tragically wasted youth. Rated: 4/4 Aug 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (134) audience reviews
Grant H A depressing film whose reputation hasn't worn well with the passage of time. Some scenes are very stagey. There are many Bergman trademark "meaningful" landscape shots but the story is slight and episodic. I was expecting more. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/24 Full Review nick s An immersive story rather than a riveting one, but definitely one that draws you in. So count on a bit of a slow burn. The acting is perfect, as is the patient artistic directing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/18/23 Full Review Dave S In an effort to escape their mundane, working-class lives, young lovers Monika and Harry (Harriet Andersson and Lars Ekborg) escape to the Swedish seaside for a summer of romance and adventure. However, when Monika finds herself pregnant, the pressures of adulthood begin to rupture their relationship. Ingmar Bergman's Summer With Monika is both refreshing and sobering in equal measures, a coming-of-age story with no happy ending and a final scene that may leave the viewer feeling gutted. With strong performances, especially from Andersson, some beautiful cinematography, a pair of intensely interesting characters, and typically sure-handed direction, Summer With Monika is arguably Bergman's first masterpiece. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/24/23 Full Review Jay S "You're different from all the others you're just like someone in a film." Such a beautiful film by Ingmar Bergman. All I want is a piece of what they have! This is my first film I've seen in his filmography and I can't wait to see more. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/23 Full Review Christopher B Dealing with many themes closely related to his previous film "Summer Interlude" and taking place during Summer as well, "Summer with Monika" has a drastically different feel and ending to it. Sharply written, wonderfully acted and featuring beautiful shots throughout the entirety of the film all add up to a cohesive and poignant work of art! We follow a girl named Monika and her summer spent with a man named Harry escaping the adult world filled with responsibilities and hardships for a relaxing escape into their own world with one another. As the summer comes to an end however, things start to come back into perspective and the happiness abruptly ends and Monika who has grown bored eventually finds someone else. Harry takes their child out of the filth and uncaring ways of Monika in order to have a better life for the child's sake as Monika lives on in her empathy and lack of willingness to try or for that matter even care. This is a simple film that remains incredibly powerful to this day and is yet again another stunning film in Bergman's impeccable canon! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/03/22 Full Review Audience Member One of the most straightforward (and least interesting) of the Bergman films I've seen, a drama which chronicles a love affair between a pair of runaway teens across the course of the summer. Little more than a coming of age story, but of course beautiful as Bergman films are wont to be. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Disillusioned young city-dweller Harry (Lars Ekborg) is frustrated with his societal responsibilities and his menial job, but when he meets sultry beauty Monika (Harriet Andersson), and she takes an interest in him, life takes on new meaning. Inflamed with passion, the lovers steal Harry's father's boat and give up their banal city life for an erotic summer spent on an island. There, Monika teaches Harry to give up his inhibitions, and all is good -- until Monika's true nature is revealed.
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Producer
Allan Ekelund
Screenwriter
Per Anders Fogelström
Production Co
Svensk Filmindustri
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Swedish
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 14, 2017
Runtime
1h 36m
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