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Information

Year
1974
Runtime
210 min.
Director
Peter Watkins
Genres
Drama, Romance, Mystery, Biography, History
Rating *
8.4
Votes *
2,292
Checks
895
Favs
143
Dislikes
8
Favs/checks
16.0% (1:6)
Favs/dislikes
18:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. Sonjay89's avatar

    Sonjay89

    One of the finest cinematic experiences I've had. The montage is fabulous, invoking Soviet montage in that it is intellectual rather than continuity editing. It seems Watkins was more interested in the time period and social problems going on than any one person. He intercuts between individual freedom/creative freedom, sex, gender, among other issues. The narration is perfect. The cinematography is beautiful. The perfect balance of aesthetics and intellectually-engaging content. A masterpiece to be cherished. 9 years 4 months ago
  2. stabat_mater's avatar

    stabat_mater

    An awful lot can be said about this masterpiece, or absolutely nothing. All I can say is that it made my soul mature. 11 years ago
  3. ucuruju's avatar

    ucuruju

    I thought the length didn't gel completely with the repetitiveness and fragmented nature of the narrative-- the jumping back and forth starts to get a bit tedious in the second half. However it does accomplish its goal: we understand how past experiences forever link love and death, ecstasy and agony, lust and hate in my boy Edvard's mind-- themes that will be depicted in his immortal artistic output. Also interesting is how the film explores the incel-like qualities of turn-of-the-century intelligentsia. August Strindberg apparently was a huge asshole and there's a not so hidden misogynistic streak in all the male speechifying about free love. But still. I do agree with the movie's POV about Munch's importance and the Christ-like suffering that gave the world new ways to express itself. "I thought you looked like Jesus", she says. Only Jesus got crucified one time-- the press just wouldn't give poor Edvard a break! Overall this is a must-see. Probably Watkins most ambitious and personal film. More than recommended. 2 years 3 months ago
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In 9 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #47 in iCheckMovies's 1970s Top 100
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    iCheckMovies's 1970s Top…

    47
  2. This movie ranks #73 in Time Out's The 100 Best British Films
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    Time Out's The 100 Best …

    73
  3. This movie ranks #82 in Eureka!'s The Masters of Cinema Series
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    Eureka!'s The Masters of…

    82
  4. This movie ranks #93 in iCheckMovies's Most Favorited
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    iCheckMovies's Most Favo…

    93
  5. This movie ranks #121 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    121
  6. This movie ranks #285 in Time Out's 1000 Films to Change Your Life
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    Time Out's 1000 Films to…

    285
  7. This movie ranks #348 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    348
  8. This movie ranks #614 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
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    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    614
  9. This movie ranks #678 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
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    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    678
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