I have no idea what this is about, but I totally dug it.

I suppose it's some sort of perverse example of the battle of the sexes, represented through this macabre, oddball carnival and the utterly bizarre characters that inhabit it. Albert and Anne's relationship is totally destructive and unhealthy, and yet it absolutely works, against all odds. Part of this is because of Åke Grönberg's devastating performance as Albert, but most of it is due to Harriet Andersson's transcendent, brilliant turn as Anne. She's aggressive, she's passive, she's sadistic, she's masochistic, she's beautiful, she's innocent, and she totally makes the film. Plus she's got a nice rack.

Because of this, the film's highlight is definitely the sexually charged encounter between Anne and Frans in the latter's dressing room, when the scene changes from melodramatic marriage proposal to sadomasochistic relationship to pseudo-rape at the drop of a hat. This abrupt, severe shift in tone is brutalizing but effective, making the whole proceedings feel like a black comedy gone awry. It doesn't feel like what a Bergman film should be like, but it's perhaps even better because of that.

So I walked out of it with a confused opinion, but now I think I might love it. At the very least, it's an interesting watch.