Through a Glass Darkly (1961)

Set against the haunting backdrop of a remote island off the Swedish coast, 'Through a Glass Darkly' unravels the intricate web of familial ties and personal dilemmas. The story unfolds as the island becomes a temporary haven for the dysfunctional family of Martin, a devoted doctor, his mentally fragile wife Karin, her younger brother Minus, and their father David, a renowned writer returning from a long stay in the Swiss Alps. The family has clung to the illusion of unity despite David's frequent absences, which have sown seeds of discontent and sparked a myriad of problems. His return is not a cause for celebration, but a catalyst for the surfacing of deeply buried emotions and unsaid truths. Minus, teetering on the brink of adulthood, is a whirlpool of repressed feelings. He grapples with his longing for parental love and his uneasy transition into the world of sexuality. His sister Karin, recently discharged from a mental institution, is a ticking time bomb. Her doctor's grim prognosis of her mental disorder hangs over them like a dark cloud, threatening to shatter her fragile reality at any moment. Martin, caught in this vortex, remains steadfast in his love for Karin, ready to weather any storm that might come their way. As Karin's grip on reality begins to weaken, Minus bears the brunt of her deterioration. However, her unraveling also forces the men in her life to confront the issues plaguing their relationships. Compounding the tension, a hidden journal reveals the truth about Karin's incurable disease, pushing her over the precipice and sending shockwaves through the family. 'Through a Glass Darkly' is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the disintegration of a family under the weight of mental illness. It is a chilling portrait of how the specter of insanity can trigger the unraveling of relationships and the shattering of illusions.

Through a Glass Darkly is a drama movie featuring Harriet Andersson and directed by Ingmar Bergman.

Through a Glass Darkly is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Through a Glass Darkly on Amazon Video and Apple TV.