"To joy" is a film about a couple married too soon. In "Summer with Monica" (1953, Ingmar Bergman) it is particularly the woman who is not mature enough, in "To joy" it is the man.
Stig Eriksson (Stig Olin) values his career more than his marriage. The goal of his career is to become the first violinist of the orchestra in which he plays. Even the conductor (played by Vitor Sjöström) can not persuade him that there is also much satisfaction to be gained from a more serving role in the orchstra. Only when it is too late he realises that the conductor was right when his son visits a rehearsal of Beethovens ninth (the title of the movie "To joy" is derived from the name of this symphony) to listen to his father.
"To joy" is an early Bergman. Ingmar Bergman was a director who had to learn his trade, so the quality of this film is below the quality of the films he made in his prime. Noteworthy is the collaboration with former director Victor Sjöström, who counselled Bergman in his early years. This collaboration (Bergman as director, Sjöström as actor) would become very famous when it was repeated when Bergman was in his prime ("Wild strawberries", 1957).
Bergman was maybe not yet fully grown as a director, he did show some selfknowledge. During the making of "To joy" Bergman's own marriage was dissolved. It is not unlikely that the character of Stig Eriksson contains some autobiographical elements.
Stig Eriksson (Stig Olin) values his career more than his marriage. The goal of his career is to become the first violinist of the orchestra in which he plays. Even the conductor (played by Vitor Sjöström) can not persuade him that there is also much satisfaction to be gained from a more serving role in the orchstra. Only when it is too late he realises that the conductor was right when his son visits a rehearsal of Beethovens ninth (the title of the movie "To joy" is derived from the name of this symphony) to listen to his father.
"To joy" is an early Bergman. Ingmar Bergman was a director who had to learn his trade, so the quality of this film is below the quality of the films he made in his prime. Noteworthy is the collaboration with former director Victor Sjöström, who counselled Bergman in his early years. This collaboration (Bergman as director, Sjöström as actor) would become very famous when it was repeated when Bergman was in his prime ("Wild strawberries", 1957).
Bergman was maybe not yet fully grown as a director, he did show some selfknowledge. During the making of "To joy" Bergman's own marriage was dissolved. It is not unlikely that the character of Stig Eriksson contains some autobiographical elements.