Cries and Whispers
Cries and Whispers

Cries and Whispers

1972Movie95 minSwedish

As Agnes slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so immersed in their own psychic pains that they are unable to offer her the support she needs.

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IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic96
Google Users90%
Director: Ingmar BergmanGenres: Drama, Psychological Drama

Plot Summary

In a turn-of-the-century mansion, Agnes is dying of cancer, attended by her two sisters, Karin and Maria, and a devoted maid, Anna. As Agnes's pain intensifies, the emotional distance and unresolved conflicts between the sisters come to the surface, revealing deep-seated resentments and a profound sense of isolation. The film explores themes of faith, death, and the desperate search for meaning and connection in the face of mortality.

Critical Reception

Ingmar Bergman's 'Cries and Whispers' is widely regarded as a masterpiece of psychological cinema, receiving universal acclaim from critics for its searing exploration of human emotion and its profound visual artistry. While its bleak themes and intense emotionality have been noted, its powerful performances and masterful direction have cemented its status as one of the most significant films of the 20th century.

What Reviewers Say

  • Hauntingly beautiful and deeply unsettling portrayal of familial dysfunction and mortality.
  • Bergman's signature exploration of faith, suffering, and the human condition is at its most potent.
  • Visually stunning with unforgettable performances, particularly from Harriet Andersson and Kari Sylwan.

Google audience: Viewers consistently praise 'Cries and Whispers' for its profound emotional depth and artistic brilliance. Many highlight the film's powerful performances and Bergman's unflinching examination of life's darkest themes, though some find its intensity challenging.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Cinematography. Won Best Film at the 1973 Guldbagge Awards (Sweden).

Fun Fact

The stark, crimson-red interiors of the mansion were intentionally designed to symbolize the inner emotional landscape of the characters, representing hell and the blood of the body.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

There are certainly some very strong performances in this rather downbeat drama from Ingmar Bergman. "Agnes" (Harriet Andersson) is bed-ridden, dying of cancer and being tended by her two sisters "Karin" (Ingrid Thulin); "Maria" (Liv Ullman...
CRCulver

CRCulver

Ingmar Bergman's 1972 film <i>Viskningar och rop</i> (Cries and Whispers) was one of the auteur's major achievements of that decade. In a Swedish country house, the dying Agnes (Harriet Andersson) is visited by her two sisters, the sensual ...
talisencrw

talisencrw

Though my personal favourite of Bergman's films will always be the first I've seen, for sentimental reasons ('Through a Glass Darkly'), this is outstanding. Essential for all cinephiles. A masterclass of acting, directing and cinematography...