Konterr Brilliant and touching

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Sammy-Jo Cervantes There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Richard Chatten Ingmar Bergman treats Liv Ullmann to a star turn worthy of Joan Crawford in her heyday which culminates in an emotional outburst that Ullmann doubtless had a blast filming, and earned her an Oscar nomination.You know Ullmann's drama-queen suicide attempt will be unsuccessful, otherwise the TV series this originally was would have abruptly ended at the start of episode three when she downs the pills; and would have had to relocate to the next world. In a way it does, since when she wakes up in hospital, delirium sets in, in a manner recalling Doris Svedlund's dream sequence in 'Fängelse' (1949), with Ullmann drifting about dressed in red as in 'Cries and Whispers'.In his thirty years since his debut as a director, Bergman had long ago lost his interest in depicting the lives of blue-collar workers, and ' Face to Face' occupies the rarified world of affluent professional people, so we see hardly any staff in the hospital in which Ullmann's been billeted; and nobody comes to investigate her shouting.

runamokprods A tremendous performance by Liv Ullman as a psychiatrist who is herself slowly going mad, haunted by dreams or visions of her past, pushing her towards suicide. Some of the dream imagery is truly striking and nightmarish – once again Bergman comes close to making a horror film. But at times these visions and their symbols are a bit on the nose, and at times they get repetitive. None the less, I look foreword to seeing this again. I only wish the full 200 minute version (made as 4 50 minute parts for Swedish TV) were available. I have a feeling that might make for a richer experience

Galina As every one of Ingmar Bergman's films, "Face to Face" (1976) deals with Life, Love and Death. The Bergman's alter ego in the film is "a well-adjusted, capable and disciplined person, a highly qualified professional woman with a career, comfortably married to a gifted colleague and surrounded by what is called "the good things of life." It is this admirable character's shockingly quick breakdown and agonizing rebirth that I have tried to describe. I have also, on the basis of the material at my disposal, shown the causes of the disaster as well as the possibilities available to this woman in the future." (Ingmar Bergman) This seemingly successful woman who would attempt a suicide is played by Liv Ullmann and whatever has been said about her in this film as a psychiatrist who faces and struggles with her own nervous breakdown, still can not describe how she did it. For almost two hours, she is in every scene of the film, "lonely, ashamed", and facing unbearable nightmares of her past, struggling for her sanity. She gave, perhaps, the most powerful and unforgettable performance by any actress on the screen. She literally transforms herself in several different persons - her voice, facial expressions, the manner of speech, emotions - change with such a rapid speed and so effortlessly in front of you - it would take your breath away.I've never been as moved and fascinated by any performance on the screen as by Liv's in the film and I think the second time even more than the first one. Sure, it was a Bergman's film, his ideas, his anxieties; his "toothache" in the heart but it was Liv who lived through them and showed them with such powerful depth, honesty and selflessness that the film will always belong to her. This is one performance never to forget.Both Bergman and Ullmann were nominated for an Oscar (directing and acting) but for unknown and strange reasons, the movie is not available on DVD or even on tape."yes" – to the movie and YES! to Liv Ullmann

grellmary In this harrowing film about the mental collapse of a psychiatrist, Bergman shows exactly why he is a master film maker/director. He dissects Jenny's breakdown with such precision, from the meeting with her grandmother to her eventual complete crash into insanity, it is difficult not to be wrenched into the film. The acuteness of Jenny's anxiety and fears grow steadily and continuously as the film moves along and you have no choice to feel it too. The choice of music also exacerbates that feeling of impending disintegration of Jenny's mind. Liv Ullman who plays Jenny does an awesome job in this rather ironic role of the shrink who is slowly but surely losing her own mind. This may be a slow moving film for some, but this is exactly why this movie is done so well. It is a definite watch.