Friday, January 4, 2019

THE SERPENT’S EGG: DEPRESSION ON STEROIDS



I’m not quite sure where to begin writing this review. I’ve been exposed to several Ingmar Bergman films but none seem quite like this one. His only Hollywood film it still contains things he always seemed to use in his film, a solitary character and depressing mood about everything, but this one goes beyond that. As my title suggests, this is depression on steroids.

David Carradine plays Abel, an out of work Jewish circus performer in 1920s Germany. Unemployment and inflation have caused the country to tumble downward. People are starving and looking for work. Max returns to the apartment he shares with his brother Max only to find he has committed suicide, leaving behind a note that says "There is a poisoning going on".

Interrogated by police inspector Bauer (Gert Froebe), he is released and goes on a drinking binge. An alcoholic he heads to the cabaret where his ex-sister in law Manuela (Liv Ullmann) works. He lets her know what has happened and she takes him back to her apartment to stay. They discuss the possibilities of working together before going to sleep. The next day while she goes to work, Abel steals what money she has to get drunk.

Abel is picked up by the police and taken to view several bodies. He recognizes some but not all. When he asks why they brought him there to see the bodies he’s told that all died within blocks of where he lived recently. He is told he is in police custody and tries to escape but is easily recaptured. Unable to prove anything he is released.

From there things go from bad to worse. Manuela’s landlady forces them to leave because they are not married. Manuela sadly admits that she works as a prostitute to make ends meet. The pair get jobs working for a hospital where Manuela works in the laundry area and Abel works in the archives department. There he learns of secret tests involving Jews that are being conducted and that his brother worked with them. All of this leads to the head “doctor” telling him that trouble is brewing and that Hitler will take over in ten years’ time.

Sounds like a fun movie right? Well it isn’t at all. The composition of shots are all low key depicting the 1920s Germany as it probably looked at the time. Kudos for believability but it doesn’t make for an inviting film to watch. It’s drab, dark and dirty and leaves you feeling uncomfortable. If that was Bergman’s intent he succeeded.

But that’s not the biggest problem with the film. The first is the characters and actors portraying them. Of the two leads only Manuela is sympathetic here. You feel bad for her, forced to do what she has to do to survive. And while Ullmann is a great actress we don’t get much of that from her here. Carradine, on the other hand, shows why he was at best a bit player and was never a true star no matter how many lead roles he had. Far too many meaningful looks on his face where dialogue could have helped show that here. And the character is not one that you ever feel for despite the tragedies that befall him.

The second problem with the film is that it meanders about in so many directions. Is the film about a conspiracy involving the testing of Jews? Is it a commentary on the times and what took place in Germany? Or is it about the inevitable rise of Hitler due to all of the economic woes that were taking place at the time? While so many things like these are touched on none are explored to their full extent.

In spite of my not enjoying the film I will say that Arrow has done their usual amazing job with this release. As part of their Arrow Academy series the film boast a great looking picture with a new restoration of the film onto hi-def. They also include a number of extras like an audio track with David Carradine, BERGMAN’S EGG a new film appreciation by critic/author Barry Forshaw, AWAY FROM HOME an archival featurette with interviews of Carradine and Ullmann, GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM an archival interview with author Marc Gervais, a stills gallery, the theatrical trailer, reversible sleeve artwork and for the first pressing only an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Geoffrey Macnab.

While the film was not to my liking there may be others out there who disagree. For those willing to take a look then by all means pick this one up. For those who love Bergman this will be a chance to add the film to your collection in the best way possible as that’s what Arrow always offers. 

No comments:

Post a Comment