From the Life of the Marionettes [Aus dem Leben der Marionetten] *** (1980, Robert Atzorn, Christine Buchegger, Martin Benrath) – Classic Movie Review 10,404

Writer-producer-director Ingmar Bergman’s 1980 From the Life of the Marionettes [Aus Dem Leben Der Marionetten] is a late, German-made Bergman cinema and TV film about a businessman Peter Egermann (Robert Atzorn) who strangles a prostitute to work out his hatred of his wife Katarina (Christine Buchegger).

From the Life of the Marionettes is challenging, difficult stuff, not among Bergman’s best-regarded work, but it is a very considerable piece, with a sharp workout for his usual obsessions and observations, and the satisfying, well-developed idea of two support characters from his 1974 Scenes from a Marriage promoted centre stage.

Sven Nykvist’s remarkable camerawork in Eastmancolor and mostly black and white, and the meeting of the German cast with the Swedish mentality help to keep it fascinating.

It was made during Bergman’s tax-related exile in Germany. Note the participation of Britain’s Incorporated Television Company (ITC), an unusual venture for producer Lew Grade.

Also in the cast are Martin Benrath, Rita Russek, Lola Müthel, Walter Schmidinger, Heinz Bennent, Ruth Olafs, Karl-Heinz Pelser, Gaby Dohm, Erwin Faber, Heino Hallhuber, and Toni Berger.

From the Life of the Marionettes [Aus dem Leben der Marionetten] is directed by Ingmar Bergman, runs 104 minutes or 90 minutes (theatrical), is made by Bavaria Film, Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Personafilm, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) and Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), is released by Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1981) (US) (theatrical) (subtitled), is written by Ingmar Bergman, is shot in Eastmancolor and black and white by Sven Nykvist, is produced by Lew Grade, Martin Starger, Horts Wendlandt, Ingmar Bergman and Richard Brick, is scored by Rols Wilhelm, and designed by Rolf Zehetbauer.

The 2017 digital restoration is by Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,404

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