The Touch (1971 film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Touch


imdb_id = 0066826
writer = Ingmar Bergman
starring = Elliott Gould
Bibi Andersson
Max von Sydow
Sheila Reid
Liv Ullmann
director = Ingmar Bergman
producer = Lars-Owe Carlberg
Ingmar Bergman
distributor =
released = August 30, 1971
runtime = 106 min
language = English
budget =

"The Touch" (originally titled "Beröringen") is a 1971 film directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Max von Sydow, Bibi Andersson, Elliot Gould, and Sheila Reid.

Plot

Andreas and Karin Vergerus (von Sydow and Andersson) live in fine rapport, their personalities matching well. Both are quiet, contemplative, and very rational persons, not liable to act spontaneously. The intruder, "David Kovac", played by "Elliott Gould", is in contrast an impetuous man, uncompromising, overbearing, and tormented by inner contradictions and compulsions. Karin and David become clandestine lovers, but aren't appropriate for each other. Before they meet David attempted suicide and Karin was unhappy to be reduced to a wife. They flower in their new love and it destroys their lives.

Themes

Instead the question of why Karin turns away from Andreas seems intentionally perplexing. The dialogue and acting of the lovers is cerebral and cold, as if they were reciting dazedly on a stage, astounding themselves with their actions and feelings, and acting on an impulse isolated from their personalities. This impulse or drive is not eros, as especially at the beginning of their affair sex is more of a problem than a release for the lovers.

The central metaphor of the film is a medieval wooden statue of Mary, recently excavated after being buried for centuries, analogous to Gould's and Andersson's potential to be lovers or man and woman. But with the disinterment of the Mary, insect larvae come alive inside her, corroding her from within, much as David and Karin's awakening causes them similar destruction.

Cast (in credits order)

*"Elliott Gould" ("David Kovac")
*"Bibi Andersson" ("Karin Vergerus")
*"Max von Sydow" ("Andreas Vergerus")
*"Sheila Reid" ("Sara Kovac")

Rest of cast listed alphabetically

*"Margareta Byström" ("Secretary to Andreas Vergerus") (uncredited)
*"Elsa Ebbesen" ("Hospital Matron") (uncredited)
*"Dennis Gotobed" ("English civil servant") (uncredited)
*"Staffan Hallerstam" ("Anders Vergerus") (uncredited)
*"Barbro Hiort af Ornäs" ("Karin's mother") (uncredited)
*"Åke Lindström" ("Dr. Holm") (uncredited)
*"Ann-Christin Lobråten" ("Museum employee") (uncredited)
*"Karin Nilsson" ("Neighbour") (uncredited)
*"Maria Nolgård" ("Agnes Vergerus") (uncredited)
*"Erik Nyhlén" ("The Archeologist") (uncredited)
*"Bengt Ottekil" ("Bell boy") (uncredited)
*"Alan Simon" ("Therapist at museum") (uncredited)
*"Per Sjöstrand" ("Therapist") (uncredited)
*"Aino Taube" ("Woman on stairs") (uncredited)
*"Mimmo Wåhlander" ("Nurse") (uncredited)
*"Carol Zavis" ("Stewardess") (uncredited)