Essay Example on Bergman's Films: Redefining Cinema With Chromatic Imagery and Naturalism

Introduction

Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a renowned director, producer, and writer, where he focused on films, theater, and television. He is regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers where employed great cinematic technique which significantly changed the history of cinema. Bergman made a great contribution to redefining visual literacy through the use of light in his films (Orr 2014). Further, the convergence of chromatic imagery and naturalistic aspects depicted Bergman's films as self-reflective. From a production standpoint, he incorporated light into a cinema, which helped in illuminating the soul of a character in the films. Also, Bergman's exploration of the natural environment and existential conflict of the characters significantly transformed cinema (Luko 2015). More significantly, Bergman's films created a departure from viewing films as a form of entertainment to art that is hinged on explaining the meaning of existence. Also, he explored the psychological aspect of the characters, which influenced the socio-cultural setting of society (Wen 2014). Despite the technological advancement that has greatly redefined cinema, Bergman's films such as The Seventh Seal (1957), Persona (1966), and Cries and Whispers (1972) are still believed to have transformed cinema by integrating cinematic trends and traditions by creating most of his films' central theme around the identity of characters.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Impact of Bergman's Films

Understandably, most of Bergman's films are centered on simplicity, which has enabled the audience to understand every aspect of the films. The films were produced and acted excellently, and this has created an idea that taking a simple approach in the production of the films can help in illuminating even the most of the undramatic scenes (Orr 2014). Bergman was focused on making his audience understands what is happening behind the surfaces. Bergman's films emphasize on getting rid of inconsequential issues and focused on essentials, which significantly enhanced the films' simplicity. Most of the films produced by Bergman are anchored on his reflections, which enriched people's perceptions of life by creating a strong foundation of human relationships (Luko 2015). More critically, he infused a great understanding of the socio-cultural aspect, which inspired the viewers to develop an excellent personal relationship. Furthermore, Bergman's films are premised on dramas touching on people's psychology. He shed light on the unseen minds by probing the human psyche. In his film, Summer with Monika, he uses poetic style by developing great vocabulary and grammar to demonstrate inner conflicts of the characters (Wen 2014).

More significantly, Bergman emerged as the hallmark of existential drama through the recurrent use of stylistic devices, internal environment, and themes. His great filmmaking skills were evident as he successfully created a convergence between classic cinema narrative techniques and contemporary stylistic devices (Van Belle 2019). Also, his existential exploration was anchored on systemic analysis that transformed cinematography. In the film The Seventh Seal, Bergman extensively used allegories that created the emergence of artistry in his works (Orr 2014). The dream-like worlds he created acted as a reflection of the reality. Undoubtedly, The Seventh Seal is largely metaphorical as it depicted the reflections that are only visible in Bergman's mind. Additionally, he investigated the modern society, which revealed the challenges experienced by the people. Moreover, Bergman's films transformed people's perceptions of cinema as he focused on incorporating psychological possibilities into his films (Luko 2015). Better still, he explored human emotion by using fantastical elements that provided a new understanding of cinematography. Also, Bergman's films made a successful contribution to the understanding of sexuality, which is an important element in promoting socio-cultural foundation (Wen 2014). Bergman's films transformed the televisual and filmic aspect of cinematography as most of the themes that he created, such as marriage and religion, were exclusively shown on television.

From the production perspective, Bergman emerged as an influential craftsman, as he infused imagery in his films to provide not only entertainment but also artistic elements. In his film, Wild Strawberries, he provided well-knit surrealistic reflections which were matched with quality pictures (Wen 2014). Bergman, as a filmmaker, was precise in his works, and he employed deep psychology that provided an understanding of human beings. He created characters that the viewers could easily identify their inner lives, and this significantly changed the way people view cinema. Additionally, Bergman created a mixture of religion and the dread of death, which infused universals of terror and happiness into cinematography. Furthermore, Bergman's transformation of cinematography is depicted by his ability to present people in depressing situations that describe the realities of life (Orr 2014). Also, Bergman's characters are depicted as individually isolated, which demonstrates the life and experience of a human being. He further gives man's history by revealing their struggles to connect with others in society, which are highlighted in closely woven films. In his film, Three Strange Loves, he highlights the difficulties experienced in marriage, where husband and wife are involved in continuous avoidance of each other's emotions (Luko 2015). The film encompasses all the themes that have been embedded in Bergman's obsession.

Bergman's films revolve around philosophy, but they often gravitate towards comedy which made his cinematography to have the much-needed artistic power. Notably, in his film, The Silence, Bergman created an artistic fault line which resulted in tremors in cinematography (Van Belle 2019). He incorporated conflicting individual obsessions and artistic strategies, which helped to develop a deep understanding of the reality depicted by the films (Luko 2015). Understandably, the film is largely considered as entertainment artistry, and Bergman's infusion of the challenges experienced by the middle-class through the use of existential understanding created humor among the viewers. Moreover, the films produced by Bergman are hinged on great theatrical precision, which has significantly changed the perception of the people (Van Belle 2019). Bergman infused the sense of self-loathing and self-questioning, which eroded the moral grounds to depict the difference between the external environment and the inner life of the people. Further, he created a well-woven reality of filmed images into his stories, which are integral in revealing different issues such as religion, politics, and natural existence (Orr 2014). Additionally, Bergman gave the viewers a voice which made them establish their inherent conflicts with society. His films provided the viewers with an opportunity to express and understand their identity crises (Vermilye 2015). Bergan created inspiring elements in films where he effortlessly confessed his aspirations, fears, and conflicts, which help the viewers in reflecting on their inner lives.

Filmic and Televisual Aspect

Bergman's films are produced with great visual quality, which is meant to bring precision and simplicity of the art. In the film Wild Strawberries, Bergman creates Borg as the main character bearing all initials of his name. Borg, who is the epicenter of the film's strength, is depicted as cold, withdrawn, and egoistic (Orr 2014). In this film, the cameras are placed to linger on backgrounds, and the scenes are made to last longer. Most of his films illuminated certain elements of life, such as the creation of art and death of soul and feelings. More significantly, the filmic aspect of his Bergman's Summer with Monika is anchored on bringing to the fore the lives of the youth and heir conflict with the overriding demands of adulthood (Luko 2015). Also, the televisual development is depicted in The Seventh Seal, especially when the warmth of the film is not watered down by the inherent mood that reflects Bergman's anxieties. Moreover, the use of television-style that was centered on a zooming lens gained popularity after the 1960s (Livingston 2019). Understandably, Bergman's films are based on experiments with realism, and this helped in illuminating the filmic context that is needed by the viewers.

Business Aspect

Ingmar Bergman's films made a significant foothold in the distribution circles, where the US art-house played an integral role in creating an effective marketing strategy that made the films to transform cinema. During the 1950s, there were films' marketing gaps that impeded their distribution to reach the audiences (Luko 2015). The emergence of Janus as the leading distributor of Bergman's films redefined the business perspective of the cinematography. Janus, through their public relations firm, Blowitz & Maskell, used the press to inform the people about Ingmar Bergman as an artist, his films, and themes (Vermilye 2015). Janus leveraged on the Americans' enthusiasm about The Seventh Seal by creating advertisements and posters emblazoned with quote adjectives, which made them embrace the film. The advertising approach adopted by Janus resulted in great sales, and this was enhanced by the release of The Magician, which delighted most of Bergman's devotees. The release of the English version of Bergman's films significantly expanded the markets, which covered some of the largest arthouses in big cities. Notably, Bergman became a film phenomenon towards the end of 1959, and his films edged most of the influential Hollywood productions (Livingston 2019). It should be noted that the marketing success of Bergman's films was attributed to his use of different stylistic devices, which created enthusiasm among the viewers.

Socio-Cultural Context

Bergman used great precision in analyzing the intellectual disquiet of the people. His were focused on illuminating the socio-cultural setting of society (Luko 2015). Bergman embraced the reality of death, cruelty, and the conflict of mind. Undoubtedly, he effectively incorporated his persona into internal struggles to understand people's cultural foundation. Also, Bergman used his experiences to illuminate artistic views of marriage, death, and the nature of women, among others. His films were interwoven with social and cultural values that transformed the welfare of the society. Further, he emphasized on individual influences and how they can be detrimental in upholding the established socio-cultural values. More critically, Bergman's visions were premised on mortality and an individual's isolation within the society. In his film, The Magician, Bergman outlined the virtues of artists, whom he described as parasitical creatures who feed on the challenges experienced by their subjects (Livingston 2019). He observed that art could be used as a form of consolation to the characters who are embroiled in different problems such as rejection and isolation. Moreover, the aspect of adolescent rebellion is depicted, and in his autobiography The Magic Lantern, he explains that his mother kept him at a distance when he asked his mother, "were given masks instead of faces?" (Luko 2015) this demonstrates the cultural setting of the society during his times.

Additionally, Bergman, in his films, depicted grown men as emotionally stunted, and they were impeded by pride and averseness to humiliation. Bergman's works were driven great sense of empathy, humility, and value towards other people in the society (Livingston 2019). He presented contemporary ideas to the cultural values and infused artistic techniques to demonstrate the reality that lay underneath...