1189 Bo Widerberg’s New Swedish Cinema

[domino harvey]

Extremely disappointed by the Baby Carriage, which exhibits the same tendencies that derailed Karlek 65 (not in this set) for me-- an inconsistent and empty usage of random “cool” images that mean nothing. I also found the denouement with the “nice guy” so utterly predictable and phony, typical “shock” class and gender insights that represent the worst of world cinema (though I suppose along those lines that I should be thankful that this film didn’t end with her killing herself too). And why is there so much time spent on this guy when surely no one could care what he’s up to once his function is revealed? Individual moments and observations work, but on the whole this is hollow stuff. I get the grim foreboding that Elvira Madigan may be an outlier for me and Widerberg

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Extremely disappointed by the Baby Carriage, which exhibits the same tendencies that derailed Karlek 65 (not in this set) for me-- an inconsistent and empty usage of random “cool” images that mean nothing. I also found the denouement with the “nice guy” so utterly predictable and phony, typical “shock” class and gender insights that represent the worst of world cinema (though I suppose along those lines that I should be thankful that this film didn’t end with her killing herself too). And why is there so much time spent on this guy when surely no one could care what he’s up to once his function is revealed? Individual moments and observations work, but on the whole this is hollow stuff. I get the grim foreboding that Elvira Madigan may be an outlier for me and Widerberg

This was my exact feelings as well. Elvira Madigan is far and away my favorite Widerberg.