A Ship to India

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Audience Member Ingmar Bergman's third feature is a moody psychodrama that shows us people trapped in unhappy relationships, looking for a way out, inflicting harm or having harm inflicted on them. We begin with Johannes Blom (Birger Malmsten) who has just returned to his home port after seven years away at sea. He is anxious to see the girl he left behind - but when he finds her, she is bitter and cold. He wanders off and falls asleep on the beach - at which point begins a long flashback (comprising almost all of the movie) that tells his story and that of those around him. Indeed, the dominant figure in the flashback is Johannes' father, Captain Alexander Blom (Holger Löwenadler) who is sadistic to his son (berating him because of a slight hunched back) and neglectful of his wife and a bad captain to his crew. He goes on a two or three day bender and brings back a girl with whom he plans to sail away when the current job is done, leaving his wife and son. The girl, Sally (Gertrud Fridh), is a music hall singer/dancer with a possibly sordid past - but upon seeing how the father treats his family, she feels sympathy and tenderness for Johannes. The movie is frank about their sexual relationship (but apparently this was edited from US prints). As expected, the father-son conflict comes to a head, resulting in Johannes leaving for his seven-year voyage (the early scenes assure us that all the characters survive the flashback but you might not fully expect that, otherwise). When the flashback ends, we see how Sally and Johannes' relationship proceeds. Although not yet at the height of his powers - and owing a strong debt to the poetic realism of Marcel Carne (for example, Le Jour Se Leve, 1939) - Bergman creates emotional tension superbly here; we are allowed to consider how all of the major characters view their conflicts and the possible psychological reasons behind their behaviour (softening our negative judgments of some or at least evoking pity). But no one yet seems to have completely lost hope - everyone is grasping for peace and serenity in their futures (although some may not find it). This might not be the blueprint for future Bergman characters. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member This may be one of Bergman's more overlooked films from his filmography. Although, I have only seen a total of 6 of his films in my life of the 67 titles he's directed on his own. For me this was his first step into becoming one of the great directors of all time in 1947, and it pleases me to say, I actually look forward to more of his films now and am thankful this wasn't the disaster "It Rains on Our Love" was. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member One of Bergman's early films that lays the groundwork for his themes to come. Some excellent camera work and a solid script. Malmsten is solid, as always. An essential entry in understanding Bergman's early canon. The adaptation of Soederhjelm's play and conversion to film is extremely well done. For an even better early Bergman the pushes further, check out "Fängelse" (Prison, 1949.) Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member A bit all over the place. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member One of Bergman's first films is one of his most interesting, but it's not one of his best. The characterizations of the film's protagonists are inconsistent from scene to scene and some of them leave a viewer with many unanswered questions (like the mother's motivations.) Beyond that, the cinematography is pretty dowdy, particularly the exterior footage. Still, it has elements that Bergman fans will recognize from his more famous films, and it contains sequences of despair and anguish that can haunt a viewer days later. Birger Malmsten, who plays the lead character Johannes and who will be seen in several later Bergman films, is immensely likable and compelling as the hunchback son who finally stands up to his despotic father. While many of the early Bergman films are uninteresting at almost every level ("Port of Call," for instance) this one is well worth a look for the hard core Bergmaniac, if you can find it. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member The early Bergmans get overlooked, but I think most of them are quite good. This one has some weak writing but otherwise I liked it. You've got some of his familiar themes here, particularly humiliation and frustrated rage. The story is not terribly original, but it holds your attention, and the actors are all good. The camerawork is especially fine here as well, with a lot of artfully composed shots and expressive lighting. It's not a masterpiece, but I'd watch it again. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

A Ship to India

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