Through a Glass Darkly

There's this Independent Theater here in DC, specializes in art house cinema sort of thing. So we decided to go yesterday, they were showing a few contemporary movies but also featuring Part I of Ingmar Bergman's "Trilogy of Faith," Through a Glass Darkly. Let me say, wow. This was the first film of his I've seen, and I have definitely been thinking about it all day.

Just as a brief synopsis, the film mercilessly plops us right into the rapidly disintegrating holiday weekend gathering of a broken family. There are only four members to the cast and family, the father, his children, Karin and Minus, and Karin's husband. Karin has schizophrenia and was just released from an asylum; Bergman gives us front row seats to this infinitely like-able and tragic girl's relapse into psychosis and her family's reaction and their own problems. He questions existence, beliefs, human-nature, faith or lack-of-faith,...all those things required for a decent "art house film" dealing with theological "stuff." The title is a reference to a Bible verse a from 1 Corinthians and the main theme of the film. The verse says: "For now we see through a glass, darkly," meaning clarity for some situations is obscured in life, like looking at something with a darkened mirror. In the case of the film I think Bergman is suggesting his/our understanding of God, what we know/believe/see, is obscured, seen through a glass, darkly. Pretty sure this movie is for people who like to think, cause you'll do a lot of it. Well, now I've got to get a hold of part's II and III.

Oh yeah, it's snowing here in DC, AGAIN!!!

Well, inspired by Bergman's medium, black and white that is, I've got two B&W photos for you. Both from Budapest, one of my absolute favorite cities.