God and Religion according to Ingmar Bergman: Alternative Interpretation of the „Religious Phase“ Cover Image

Bog i Religija prema Ingmaru Bergmanu: Alternativna Interpretacija „Vjerske Faze“
God and Religion according to Ingmar Bergman: Alternative Interpretation of the „Religious Phase“

Author(s): Domagoj Galić
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Sociology of Culture, Film / Cinema / Cinematography
Published by: Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Mostaru
Keywords: Religion; Ingmar Bergman; film; interpretation; atheism

Summary/Abstract: The subject of this paper is conception of God in the films of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. Berg-man was a declared atheist since he was 8, but the intention of this paper is to explain his religious affinities using his movies, autobiographies and media statements. His so-called “Religious trilogy” is the most important in this area, but we shall also discuss his first important movie with religious topic e Seventh Seal and mention also e Virgin Spring. In this way, relevant religious cinematography is expanded to five films, which we shall name “Religious phase”. In the article Bergman’s films are put in the context of his entire life and activities what is opposite to individual analyses and interpretations of films. In that way we shall give author’s alternative, integrative thesis according to which Bergman’s religion went through different variations depending on the life phase, but he had a certain form of religion.

  • Issue Year: 4/2015
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 85-108
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: Croatian