After the Rehearsal (1984)

In the quiet stillness of an empty theater, meticulous director Henrik Vogler often lingers, lost in thought and planning. On this particular day, his solitude is interrupted by Anna, his leading lady in the forthcoming production of Strindberg's "A Dream Play," who mysteriously returns under the guise of retrieving a bracelet. As they converse, a tangible tension unfurls, she confesses her deep-seated resentment for her late mother, a once vibrant but alcoholic actress who was not only Vogler's shining star but also his lover. Submerged in a sea of memories, Vogler drifts into a dreamlike state, reliving an encounter with Anna's mother, Rakel, who, in the twilight of her life, implored him to visit her after rehearsal. Awakening from this reverie, he is confronted by a revelation from Anna that cuts through his habitual stoicism, awakening a rare emotional response within him. As the echoes of the theater whisper tales of past and present, the complex sentiments of an older man and a young woman play out, painting a riveting portrait of life behind the scenes.

After the Rehearsal is a drama movie featuring Erland Josephson.

After the Rehearsal is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

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