Absorbing, epic tale of handsome Gosta Berling (played by Lars Hanson) and the vulnerable, beautiful women who love him. Gosta, a defrocked clergyman with a taste for liquor (and for lovely ladies, it seems) takes on the task of tutoring the stepdaughter of a Countess who has schemes to get the stepdaughter to marry Gosta, a commoner, and thus lose her rights to their estate Borg, which will then go over to her foppish son Henrik. Henrik comes back from Italy with his new wife Elisabeth (Greta Garbo), a woman who soon also loves Gosta (seems he has been tutoring her too). After the stepdaughter finds out about his past, Gosta leaves Borg and becomes one of the "Knights of Ekeby", a group of down-and-out men given their own "Knight's Wing" at Ekeby, a neighboring estate run by a strong woman, the "Major's wife", who has a story of her own to tell.
I found this film engrossing - an interesting and unusual plot, emotional, heartfelt acting, every scene beautifully lit - the actor's hair glistening with light as it shines from above or behind, very lavish period costuming in literally every scene, lots of interesting tracking shots, handsome leading man, and the beauty of Garbo all join together in making this film a real winner. My favorite scene features an amazing tracking shot taken across the ice as the camera follows a horse-drawn sleigh chasing rapidly along, with back and forth close-ups of Hanson and Garbo, the two fur-clad passengers in the sleigh. The music score that accompanies this film on the DVD suits the story to a tea - I loved it. Just over three hours long - I enjoyed every minute of this. A stunning presentation.
I found this film engrossing - an interesting and unusual plot, emotional, heartfelt acting, every scene beautifully lit - the actor's hair glistening with light as it shines from above or behind, very lavish period costuming in literally every scene, lots of interesting tracking shots, handsome leading man, and the beauty of Garbo all join together in making this film a real winner. My favorite scene features an amazing tracking shot taken across the ice as the camera follows a horse-drawn sleigh chasing rapidly along, with back and forth close-ups of Hanson and Garbo, the two fur-clad passengers in the sleigh. The music score that accompanies this film on the DVD suits the story to a tea - I loved it. Just over three hours long - I enjoyed every minute of this. A stunning presentation.