From the Life of the Marionettes
Encyclopedia
Aus dem Leben der Marionetten (From the Life of the Marionettes) is a 1980 film directed
by Ingmar Bergman
. The film was produced in West Germany
with a German language screenplay and soundtrack while Bergman was in "tax exile
" from his native Sweden
. It is filmed in black and white apart from two colour sequences at the beginning and end of the movie. It is set in Munich
. The title is a quotation excerpted from a passage in The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
:
Unlike Collodi's story, however, Bergman's is unremittingly bleak in tone.
The film charts the disintegration of the relationship of Katarina and Peter Egermann, the feuding couple seen briefly in Bergman's earlier Scenes From a Marriage
. As Katarina seeks other lovers, the emotionally repressed and despondent Peter descends into neuroses, eventually leading him to tearfully murder a prostitute (played by Rita Russek), with the same name as his wife, at a Munich peep show
before sodomising her dead body. In the closing sequence he is incarcerated in a mental asylum. An odd counterpoint to the depressing tone of the film is the sprightly disco soundtrack over the end credits.
in Munich from October to December 1979. It begins in colour, but all the flashbacks are in black and white. The film was originally made for television and had its TV premiere on German ZDF
on 3 November 1980. The very first showing, however, was at a small film festival in Oxford
13 July 1980, followed by festival showings in Paris and the Netherlands in October 1980. After the German TV premiere the film went on general cinema release, starting with Zoo Palast in Berlin on 7 November 1980.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
. The film was produced in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
with a German language screenplay and soundtrack while Bergman was in "tax exile
Tax exile
A tax exile is one who chooses to leave a country with a high tax burden and instead to reside in a foreign nation or jurisdiction which takes a lower portion of earnings. Going into tax exile is a means of tax mitigation or avoidance.-Legal status:...
" from his native Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It is filmed in black and white apart from two colour sequences at the beginning and end of the movie. It is set in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. The title is a quotation excerpted from a passage in The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Carlo Collodi
Carlo Lorenzini , better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi, was an Italian children's writer known for the world-renowned fairy tale novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Biography:...
:
- "Most unfortunately in the lives of the Marionettes there is always a BUT that spoils everything".
Unlike Collodi's story, however, Bergman's is unremittingly bleak in tone.
The film charts the disintegration of the relationship of Katarina and Peter Egermann, the feuding couple seen briefly in Bergman's earlier Scenes From a Marriage
Scenes from a Marriage
Scenes from a Marriage is a 1973 Swedish TV series written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The story explores the disintegration of a marriage between Marianne, a lawyer, and Johan, a professor over a long period, using a restricted cast, a naturalist, hyper-realistic cinematic...
. As Katarina seeks other lovers, the emotionally repressed and despondent Peter descends into neuroses, eventually leading him to tearfully murder a prostitute (played by Rita Russek), with the same name as his wife, at a Munich peep show
Peep show
A peep show or peepshow is an exhibition of pictures, objects or people viewed through a small hole or magnifying glass. Though historically a peep show was a form of entertainment provided by wandering showmen, nowadays it more commonly refers a presentation of a sex show or pornographic film...
before sodomising her dead body. In the closing sequence he is incarcerated in a mental asylum. An odd counterpoint to the depressing tone of the film is the sprightly disco soundtrack over the end credits.
Production
The film was shot in the Bavaria Film StudiosBavaria Film Studios
The Bavaria Film in Geiselgasteig, a district of Munich's suburb Grünwald, Bavaria belongs to one of Europe's biggest and most famous film production companies.- History :...
in Munich from October to December 1979. It begins in colour, but all the flashbacks are in black and white. The film was originally made for television and had its TV premiere on German ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
on 3 November 1980. The very first showing, however, was at a small film festival in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
13 July 1980, followed by festival showings in Paris and the Netherlands in October 1980. After the German TV premiere the film went on general cinema release, starting with Zoo Palast in Berlin on 7 November 1980.
Cast
- Robert AtzornRobert AtzornRobert Atzorn is a German television actor.He was born in Bad Polzin, Pomerania, Germany, now Połczyn-Zdrój, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.- TV movies :*Schlarnorstmcshleiben*Ich bin kein Mann für eine Frau - 1999...
– Peter Egermann - Heinz BennentHeinz BennentHeinz Bennent was a German actor.Bennent was born in Stolberg, Rhineland, and served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. His career began after the end of World War II in Göttingen. He moved to Switzerland in the 1970s, where he lived until his death at age 90...
– Arthur Brenner - Martin BenrathMartin BenrathMartin Benrath was a German film actor. He appeared in 65 films between 1954 and 2000.-Selected filmography:* Court Martial * From the Life of the Marionettes * Put on Ice...
– Mogens Jensen - Toni Berger – The Guard
- Christine BucheggerChristine BucheggerChristine Buchegger is an Austrian television actress.- Selected filmography :* Derrick - Season 16, Episode 7: "Schrei in der Nacht" * Derrick - Season 6, Episode 3: "Schubachs Rückkehr"...
– Katarina Egerman - Gaby DohmGaby Dohm-Selected filmography:* When Mother Went on Strike * The Serpent's Egg * Doktor Faustus * Rosenstrasse -External links:...
– Secretary - Erwin FaberErwin FaberErwin Faber was a leading actor in Munich and later throughout Germany, beginning after World War I, and through the late-1970's, when he was still performing at the Residenz Theatre...
- Lola Müthel – Cordelia Egermann
- Ruth Olafs – Nurse
- Karl-Heinz Pelser – The Interrogator
- Rita Russek – Ka
- Walter SchmidingerWalter SchmidingerWalter Schmidinger is an Austrian actor.-Selected filmography:* The Pedestrian * Ice Age * Derrick - Season 3, Episode 10 "Das Bordfest" * The Serpent's Egg...
– Tim
External links
- Review in New York Times, June 30, 1981 Retrieved 2011-07-11
- Ingmar Bergman Face to Face: From the Life of the Marionettes Retrieved 2011-07-11