On the death of Ingmar Bergman

As far as Hans-Georg Rodek is concerned there is no quintessential Bergman style. What his films have in common is their focus on the personal, his own commitment, and their introspective style. "Bergman's greatness lies ultimately in the fact that he combined his own doubts with the conflicts of a century and an entire continent, the doubts of Europe in the 20th century... A deep understanding of the emotional life of the bourgeoisie pervades his works. And because the bourgeoisie from Sweden to Italy and from Germany to Spain, felt similarly, and slid into crises - although not necessarily at the same time, Europe as a whole could identify with Bergman's films. Bergman's characters doubt incontrovertible authority - God, the Church, marriage - but are afraid to confront these doubts because of the consequences that would follow."

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