Through a laugh darkly: Comedy in the films of Ingmar Bergman

This article explores comedy and comedic aspects in the Ingmar Bergman canon. Much of the focus is on films made between 1952 and 1964 that can be considered comedic in overall design and execution: the third section of Kvinnors väntan/Waiting Women (1952), En lektion i kärlek/A Lesson in Love (1954), Sommarnattens leende/Smiles of a Summer Night (1955b), Djävulens öga/The Devil'’s Eye (1960b) and För inte tala om alla dessa kvinnor/Now About These Women (1964). Against the grain of Bergman’s international reputation as a dark, brooding and humourless existentialist, these films collectively reveal that he was in fact a master of the sophisticated comedy genre. In addition, comedic elements and devices such as animation, trick effects, parody, pastiche and meta-cinematic play are found in other films, and including some of his most interesting experiments.