Bergman Island

The iconic island of Fårö—the home of Ingmar Bergman and the setting of some of his greatest films—provides a vivid backdrop to this drama focused on Chris (Vicky Krieps), a writer/director who accompanies her more established filmmaker husband Tony (Tim Roth) there for a working vacation. Somewhat alienated from her partner, who’s preoccupied with his own projects and entranced by Bergman’s legacy, Chris struggles to find her voice. One of Mia Hansen-Løve’s most autobiographical films to date continues her compelling exploration of the existential dynamic between work and love, previously illustrated in films that include Things to Come. Denis Lenoir’s limpid cinematography foregrounds the beauty of Fårö’s white buildings, sparkling seashore, light-filled days, and soft summer nights. Structuring her tale to contain a film within a film (featuring Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie), Hansen-Løve layers elements of documentary and fiction, and past and present, allowing for resonant moments of humor, mystery, and self-realization.