Tag Archives: Liv Ullmann

“Each time I see it, I know I accomplished what I set out to do as an actress, that I created a person.” — Bibi Andersson on Persona

It’s her birthday today. It was my great honor to write and narrate a video-essay for The Criterion Collection about Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann’s collaboration – both separately and together – with Ingmar Bergman: Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson, … Continue reading

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“Reality is diabolical.” — Ingmar Bergman

Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Ingmar Bergman It’s Ingmar Bergman’s birthday today. I saw Persona in college – while studying acting – and was so intimidated by it I thought, “Okay. I can’t ever watch this again.” I needed courage to … Continue reading

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“The best thing that can come with success is the knowledge that it is nothing to long for.” — Liv Ullmann

It’s her birthday today. In 2018 I was assigned by the Criterion Collection to write tributes to four of Ingmar Bergman’s actresses: Liv Ullmann, Bibi Andersson, (Liv and Bibi were paired together in one video – Bergman saw them as … Continue reading

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For International Women’s Day: Ladies I Love

These women inspire, entertain, challenge, comfort, provoke, or were “there” in my formative years as an inspiration. The list is huge. Below the jump.

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R.I.P. Bibi Andersson

From David Thomson’s The New Biographical Dictionary of Film : Expanded and Updated , the entry on Bibi Andersson: “She needed such a holiday to prepare for one of the most harrowing female roles the screen has presented: Nurse Alma … Continue reading

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Criterion Collection video series: Bergman’s Actors

One of my major projects earlier this year was writing essays on four of Ingmar Bergman’s actors, for the Criterion Collection “channel” on FilmStruck (which will cease operations in a couple of weeks, despite an outpouring of protest). It was … Continue reading

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For Criterion: On Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson

The beginning of a series of videos for the Criterion Collection, written and narrated by Yours Truly, on Ingmar Bergman’s collaborations with actresses. This was a major project for me, and it was an honor to pay tribute to these … Continue reading

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June 2018 Viewing Diary

This viewing diary is amusing to me,. This month has been so full, with mostly bad things (the world/national situation as well as some family awfulness) … and I got a gig early in the month which then took up … Continue reading

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March 2016 Viewing Diary

Supernatural, Season 2, Episode 20: “What Is and What Should Never Be” (2007; d. Eric Kripke) My 300-page re-cap here. At Any Price (2012; d. Ramin Bahrani) Inspired by the recent conversation Mitchell and I had about Zac Efron (Part … Continue reading

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November 2015 Viewing Diary

Spotlight (2015; d. Tom McCarthy) Excellent newspaper movie. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. Supernatural, Season 11, Episode 4, “Baby” (2015; d. Thomas J. Wright) Perfection, both formally and structurally as well as emotionally and spiritually. Truth (2015; d. James Vanderbilt) Another … Continue reading

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