I first saw this film at 19, in Professor Jennings’s film class on a scratchy 16mm print from his personal collection. It was the first “foreign” film that I truly connected with, particularly the surrealist and deeply psychological dream sequences.
It’s deep melancholy it’s a reminder that time is truly an illusion. Our greatest defeats can be re-lived with perfect clarity, and remain raw and present — even (especially?) if we try to insulate ourselves from future pain.
Perhaps Isak Borg learns this lesson too late - but the impact he has on his son’s life, his unborn grand child, and the peaceful look on his face at the end of the film says different.
Especially in these atomized times of “self-care”, we could all take a lesson in personal growth, from the Professor.