The Australian Cinémathèque presents Victor Sjöström's 1921 Swedish horror classic The Phantom Carriage as part of its Ingmar Bergman retrospective in March 2017. This screening will feature live musical accompaniment from Brisbane band Blank Realm. The film will be screened from an archival 35mm print generously provided by the National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra. Please note that this screening is ticketed.
Victor Sjöström's The Phantom Carriage 1921 was perhaps the single greatest cinematic influence on the films of Ingmar Bergman. It is a dark morality tale wrapped up in the trappings of a moody ghost story, replete with then-groundbreaking special effects. The film follows a local drunkard (played by Sjöström himself) who, upon death, is cursed to drive the titular carriage and collect the souls of the dead. However, in the vein of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', the previous driver first leads him through a tour of the moral transgressions of his own life in an attempt to redeem his soul.
This haunting horror masterpiece remains a seminal moment in silent cinema. The ethereal double-exposure effects lend an otherworldly feel to the film's visuals, while Sjöström gives an involving performance as a corrupted man. The effect of The Phantom Carriage on Bergman was enormous. After seeing it first in his youth, the film informed Bergman's directorial vision and coloured his filmmaking style throughout his career. Sjöström would go on to act in two of Bergman's films: To Joy 1950 and, most notably, in the lead role of the classic Wild Strawberries 1957.
Known as an experimental rock band with pop hooks, Blank Realm are increasingly delving into meta-physical and obscurest topics, but the achieved result is as catchy as ever. Their breakthrough album Grassed Inn was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Music Prize. In 2015, their album Illegals in Heaven won Album of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, and their track 'Palace of Love' was the most played song on Double J radio.
Adult: $16
Student/Concession/Child: $14*
Member: $13†