Musik I Morker (Music In Darkness)

The Swedish master Ingmar Bergman's 1948 film was one of his first, it isn't particularly complex or ambitious. It is good enough to watch though, and one can tell the director behind it is not of the ordinary, is special.
The plot could be over traditional but is handled nice and grimly. We have a genuine sense of stasis and of the swampy afterglow of tragedy, this feeling never quite goes away, however conventional the plot could be written on paper (it is no doubt rather cliched, and a little irritating).
It is visually thought that we have our interest. Bergman is the master of the shadow, and he dresses sets, if books and faces, so to seem to enhance the way the light falls. Good quick exposure on this leads to sharp angular shadows, and terrific textures in the darkness. He uses contrast very strongly, giving a sharp and distinct look.
As far as mis-en-shot, Bergman studies the human face. Alongside techniques such as character-tracking, loong isolation shots, changing in a conversation between cutting between and both in frame (Bergman doesn't quite settle down on one style, it can be a little experimental in a understated way) Bergman always makes sure that we either have a good close up or at least keep the reactions of the non-speaking in shit, to understand. Teasing out wonderful, not emotionless but far from hysterical performances, we have a film that really preaches the dignity of its characters.
A bit cliched and hoary, a little hurdy gurdy Scandanavian, but a striking introduction to Bergman also, ina number of respects.