Behind In the Presence of a Clown (I sällskap med en clown). unknown. 1997. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Geeze. The “making of” films of Bergman’s films in the 80s and 90s are so fascinating. This is another fly-on-the-wall thing where we follow the taping (it’s TV) of the movie, and it’s pretty great. I didn’t know that Bergman was so hands-on. That is, ever time he talks to an actor, he puts his hand of the actor’s arm, back or even face. (“No, don’t do that with your forehead. Just the eyes.”)
We also get a taste of Bergman’s rage (at a technical problems where he immediately backs down when the sheepish technician says “but it was a mistake”) which was apparently a major thing at his earlier films (but he mellowed somewhat as he got older).
I downloaded my copy from SVT after setting my VPN for “Sweden”.
This post is part of the 87 Bergman Things series.