Through a Glass Darkly

Through the Glass Darkly is a 1951 Ingmar Bergman film. The title of the film is a reference to the a Biblical passage from 1 Corinthians 13 in the New Testament . The story takes place in a 24-hour period and features four family members on a remote island. Karin has recently been released from a mental institution. She suffers from schizophrenia. Her younger brother is frustrated because he feels alienated from their father who is also on the island. The fourth character is a writer named David suffering from writer’s block. This is an interesting movie that explores a number of existential themes in typical Bergman fashion. The movie is heavily influenced by Bergman’s passion for the 19th century Swedish playwright Strindberg.