Memorize this while having a coffee in the yellow pavilion:

Freut euch des Lebens,
weil noch das Lämpchen glüht,
pflücket die Rose, eh' sie verblüht !

1. Man schafft so gern sich Sorg und Müh',
sucht Dornen auf und findet sie,
und läßt das Veilchen unbemerkt,
daß dort am Wege blüht.

2. Wenn scheu die Schöpfung sich verhüllt
und laut der Donner ob uns brüllt,
dann lacht am Abend nach dem Sturm
die Sonne, ach, so schön...

3. Wer Neid und Mißgunst sorgsam flieht
und G'nügsamkeit im Gärtchen zieht,
dem schießt sie schnell zum Bäumchen auf,
das goldene Früchte trägt...

4. Wer Redlichkeit und Treue liebt
und gern dem ärmeren Bruder gibt,
bei dem baut sich Zufriedenheit
so gern ihr Hüttchen auf...

5. Und wenn der Pfad sich furchtbar engt
und Mißgeschick dich plagt und drängt,
so reicht die Freundschaft schwesterlich
dem Redlichen die Hand...

Trixster, I am dying to know your thoughts on this underseen Bergman masterpiece.

I really enjoyed it; only Bergman can make infidelity, pedophilia, pseudo-incest, attempted suicide, and Russian roulette absolutely hilarious.

In a way, it's like the reversal of Sawdust and Tinsel. Whereas that film was down 'n' dirty, telling its battle of the sexes through its grotesque carnival, this one utilizes high-class, elitist settings - like the theatre, or the summer villa - to explore this epic gender struggle. The characters are light on development and breezy in personality - much like the narrative itself - but that only makes them more befitting of the symbolic roles they must fill.

It felt a lot like Bergman doing A Midsummer Night's Dream, with bits of Rules of the Game and even Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (though only the part about the scheming women) thrown in. The whole film is highly eroticized, only Bergman chooses not to hide the eroticism under innuendo or double entendre - it's right there, out in the open. The dialogue is as sexually charged as the situations. It's kinda shocking, actually.

And good call on the impressive racks. I nearly came in my pants when Anne and Petra wrestled around on the bed and made out (?) a little bit. Hot stuff.

So, it's basically a softcore porno with depth. What can be better?

It's such a solid screenplay. Slightly demented, too.

I love it when the kid tries to commit suicide and accidentally turns the bed mechanism on. He thinks this must be heaven and pours water over his head just to be sure. And dear Petra! And the old lady, when she gives that speech about the wine it's so macabre. And the ending. It's beautiful!

I want more Bergman.

probably the worst bergman i've seen.

A-

trixsters review makes me want to watch this.