Gycklarnas Afton (aka Sawdust And Tinsel)

Set during the turn of the century, the owner (Ake Gronberg) of a traveling circus has an intense relationship with his mistress (Harriet Andersson), a horseback rider in the show. When he returns to the town where his estranged wife (Annika Tretow) resides, their relationship is put to the test. Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman (WILD STRAWBERRIES). A complex look at the darker side of the psyche of sex and love and the depths of degradation it drags us into. It's not a pleasant journey. Dismissed by Swedish critics when first released, the film found more favor with international critics. Beautifully shot in B&W, it was the first collaboration between Bergman and the cinematographer Sven Nykvist and they would go on to make over twenty films together. Not one of my favorite Bergmans but essential if you're a Bergman fan. With Hasse Ekman, Anders Ek, Gudrun Brost and Gunnar Bjornstrand.