To Joy

1949

1 hr. 28 min.

Drama

List

Reviews

78%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

After discovering that his wife has been killed in an accident, Stig (Stig Olin) looks back on their relationship, beginning with when he and Marta (Maj-Britt Nilsson) were starting out as violinists together in an orchestra overseen by conductor Sonderby (Victor Sjöström). He recalls falling in love, and reacting badly after Marta became pregnant. He remembers his unreasonable demands throughout their tumultuous marriage, and how Marta stayed with him despite his infidelity and physical abuse.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Nov 20

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Apple TV

Rent To Joy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Apple TV.

júlio a

Ainda não me achei nesse filme....tem muitos cortes temporais abruptos fora algo estranho na relação desse casal.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ingmar Bergman wrote and directed this tale of two violinists who fall in love, get married, and have children, all while working for grumbly (but lovable) conductor Sonderby (played by Victor Sjöström, the silent film director/mentor who later starred in Bergman's Wild Strawberries). Stig Eriksson (played by Stig Olin) is rather melancholic and pessimistic but still falls for sweet and gentle Marta Olsson (played by Maj-Britt Nilsson). He doesn't deserve her. However, she will not remain his forever: we learn at the very start of the film that Marta is unfortunately later killed in a tragic accident - and the movie swiftly returns seven years earlier, in flashback, to bring us up to this final fatal moment. Erikkson is apparently a veiled version of Bergman himself, an unreliable and self-centered cad who expresses dismay when he finds out his wife is pregnant (arguing that it is wrong to bring children into this horrible world) and subsequently cheats on her with a sultry married neighbour. Apparently, Bergman was going through a divorce at the time (he eventually had five wives) and this screenplay may reflect his guilt and shame. Eventually, Marta leaves with the children. However, absence makes the heart grow fonder and eventually the couple reconciles. So, we see the ups and downs that are natural to any relationship - but it is hard to feel sympathy for Eriksson, at least until that final terrible moment when he learns of his wife's death. Later, the orchestra plays Beethoven's Ninth - based on von Schiller's "Ode to Joy" and we see Eriksson's sadness. Reading now the poem itself, which includes the words "Whoever has created/An abiding friendship, Or has won/A true and loving wife, All who can call at least one soul theirs, Join our song of praise;". The relevance is obvious and we see that Bergman is imploring us/himself to feel grateful for the love he has received (despite his many flaws). Not a masterpiece but an unpredictable melodrama that contains Bergman's obvious stamp of authorship.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It felt a bit uneven, narration scenes were quite beautiful, intimate. For me personally, there was a bit too much melodrama in a story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An intriguing drama on the reality of love to round out the Early Bergman Eclipse Series by The Criterion Collection. A fine late-career role for Bergman's idol, Victor Sjostrom, as the orchestra's conductor. Stig looks back on the years of his love with Marta, after she dies from severe burns which also injures one of their children. The film concludes with a fine treatise of the true meaning of joy. Both the film and the collection as a whole are highly recommended.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a swedish film that all too effectively explains my current feelings about america. we live in a land less of opportunity than of opportunism, a land of excess, ambition, pride, and utility. these themes dominate the landscape of this film and the fates of its characters. bergman avoids taking this film to its ultimate point of tragedy, but the message is still clear and effective. a phenomenal portrayal of issues that hit a chord with me.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(****): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Ingmar Bergman

Director

Stig Olin

Stig Eriksson

Maj-Britt Nilsson

Marta Olsson

John Ekman

Mikael Bro

Victor Sjöström

Sönderby

Birger Malmsten

Marcel

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

93%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

67%

29%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

92%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

69%

86%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

84%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

40%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

An extremely satisfying piece of cinema - the first Bergman film for which this is unabashedly true.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 28, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Overwrought melodrama that traces the pains in a rocky marriage.

Rated: B-

Mar 7, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

After discovering that his wife has been killed in an accident, Stig (Stig Olin) looks back on their relationship, beginning with when he and Marta (Maj-Britt Nilsson) were starting out as violinists together in an orchestra overseen by conductor Sonderby (Victor Sjöström). He recalls falling in love, and reacting badly after Marta became pregnant. He remembers his unreasonable demands throughout their tumultuous marriage, and how Marta stayed with him despite his infidelity and physical abuse.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Production Co: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2018

Most Popular at Home Now