These deus ex machina endings are simply a reminder from the director: this is a movie. Sure, it's a shock, but there you have it.
I found this to be a wonderful film, even more so in that the Spanish (with subtitles) was easy enough that I could understand most of it.
I don't think one has to be embroiled in the politics of the time to understand it. Like all great art, it works on many levels. The lead actress is not just selfish, she represents the life force -- the will to succeed, accompanied by the corruption that goes with all success. By the same token, the hero could be seen as finally possessed by a death instinct, the urge to purify oneself by relinquishing all desire to live normally.
I was rocked by many little surprises during the film. I liked the moment at the end where the actress plays with the different options open to her as she turns the key. This is no doubt far-fetched, but I remember a scene in King of Marvin Gardens when the actress plays with the gun and chatters about what might be done with it.
The critic/blackmailer was an amazing actor, and it was a pleasure watching the change of attitude in the woman who was failed in the course but who came to admire the teacher responsible for her failure. I liked the hero's talking about our repeating mistakes like bugs running into a mirror, but how the glass had been broken. I remembered the many Bergman moments with insects running into glass -- I think there was one in Passion of Anna, for example.
I found this to be a wonderful film, even more so in that the Spanish (with subtitles) was easy enough that I could understand most of it.
I don't think one has to be embroiled in the politics of the time to understand it. Like all great art, it works on many levels. The lead actress is not just selfish, she represents the life force -- the will to succeed, accompanied by the corruption that goes with all success. By the same token, the hero could be seen as finally possessed by a death instinct, the urge to purify oneself by relinquishing all desire to live normally.
I was rocked by many little surprises during the film. I liked the moment at the end where the actress plays with the different options open to her as she turns the key. This is no doubt far-fetched, but I remember a scene in King of Marvin Gardens when the actress plays with the gun and chatters about what might be done with it.
The critic/blackmailer was an amazing actor, and it was a pleasure watching the change of attitude in the woman who was failed in the course but who came to admire the teacher responsible for her failure. I liked the hero's talking about our repeating mistakes like bugs running into a mirror, but how the glass had been broken. I remembered the many Bergman moments with insects running into glass -- I think there was one in Passion of Anna, for example.
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