This Oscar nominated spoof of Ingmar Bergman films might appeal to fans of the great filmmaker, and not anyone else.
An elderly Viktor (George Coe) travels back to his old home, visits the outhouse, and remembers back to a brush with Death (Sidney Davis) that he had when he was younger and in love. A random, defecating bird seems to always be around, waiting to provide gravitas to Viktor's life events.
The film is just long enough to belabor its one joke (the subtitled dialogue) and then bail out. I don't think this would work as a full-length comedy at all. Some of the plot points are funny, and the combination of spoken language and subtitles is very droll, but I was getting antsy about half way through. Kahn stands out in possibly her first filmed role.
I've seen films where I couldn't get the inside joke that the filmmakers were making. Here, I think I was a part of the fun as an appreciative audience member, but feel for anyone else who would dismiss this easily. Also known as "De Duva: The Dove."
Stats:
-(1968) 14 min. (7/10)
-Directed by George Coe, Anthony Lover
-Written by Sidney Davis
-Cast: George Coe, Pamela Burrell, Sidney Davis, Madeleine Kahn, David Zirlin, Peter Turgeon, Stan Rubenstein, Tom Stone
-Not Rated- Some adult situations
