TIFF 2021: Bergman Island Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Come for the references, stay for the drama. Ingmar Bergman is one the greatest writers and directors of all time, amassing legions of fans in the process. What better than the works of Bergman to be a backdrop for the latest drama if a film titled Bergman Island was of any indication. While the namedrop is sure to attract some moviegoers, this is not a film about Bergman though the countless references to him and his work will surely appeal to fans. Using the real island off the southeastern coast of Sweden where Bergman lived and died as a literal backdrop was not only obviously beautiful to look at but also gave the film more of a cinematic feel. However, a disjointed narrative breaks up a decently-compelling story about a couple finding their purpose while looking for a creative spark using inspiration from the world of Bergman. While it doesn’t all work, Vicky Krieps and Tim Roth make it worthwhile to watch.

Bergman Island tells the story of Chris (Krieps) and Tony (Roth), a couple who travel to the island that inspired Ingmar Bergman for inspiration while writing their own screenplays. Enamored with the world of Bergman and the island and their own works, their different creative processes offered a glimpse at their relationship as a whole. With each seeing their fair share of adversity along the way, one can’t help but wonder whether their relationship would survive in the end. While that relationship/creative drama was a little slow, it was still somewhat compelling to watch though breaking the momentum of that was a disjointed narrative that saw the line between fiction and reality get blurred and Chris’ story took over. Starring a woman named Amy (Wasikowska), there were surely parallels here that were meant to blend with the present. The problems with this latter turn was that it was simply hard to care about as it only took away from the impact of Chris and Tom’s story.

That being said, the best part of Bergman Island was still Krieps and Roth’s good performances and great chemistry as Chris and Tom. They were fun to watch together and apart as the free-spirited screenwriter with writer’s block as she failed to connect with the land and the snobby director who seemed more focused on his work than his relationship. It just should have gone further with them and not tried to use another story to get there.

Overall, Bergman Island is a solid tale that won’t be for everyone but fans of these actors and breezy dramas should check this one out.

 still courtesy of IFC Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.