The best of Ingmar Bergman: five films every fan of classic films should see -.

Ingmar Bergman is one of cinema’s most profound and introspective directors, known for his profound exploration of human psychology, existential angst and the complexity of human relationships. Born in Sweden in 1918, Bergman’s films often delve into questions about the nature of life, death, faith and the inner workings of the human soul. His distinctive style combines raw emotional intensity with masterful visual composition, making him one of the most respected auteurs in film history. Bergman’s films are not only visually striking but also rich in philosophical undertones, touching on themes of mortality, the search for meaning and the fractured nature of human identity.

Below we explore five of Bergman’s most iconic films, ranked from fifth to first, and discuss their stories and underlying themes, and why they represent the pinnacle of Bergman’s work. So let’s waste no more time. Here is what we consider the best of Ingmar Bergman.

5. Cries and whispers (1972)

Set in early 20th century Sweden, Cries and Whispers tells the story of three sisters – Agnes, Karin and Maria – who reunite when Agnes dies of cancer. As the three women face Agnes’ suffering, long-buried tensions and repressed emotions surface, forcing the sisters to face the fragility of their relationships and their own mortality.

This fifth place was the hardest to choose, but we chose Cries and Whispers over other masterpieces such as Autumn Sonata because of its visceral and masterful depiction of death and the emotional turmoil that arises within a family facing its inevitability. The film is a chamber piece that strips away the polite facades of family relationships and exposes the raw, painful truths underneath. And the striking use of color – particularly the dominant shades of red – adds to the story’s suffocating intensity. Bergman’s exploration of sisterhood, pain and the deep psychological scars that define human relationships makes Cries and Whispers one of his most emotionally devastating works. It is a haunting meditation on death and how it forces us to face our past and our failures.

4. Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Fanny and Alexander is an epic family saga set in the early 1900s that follows two siblings, Fanny and Alexander, as they grow up in the lively and theatrical Ekdahl family. When their father dies and their mother remarries a strict and violent bishop, the children’s idyllic childhood is shattered and they must navigate the cruelty of their new life while longing for the warmth of their past.

Fanny and Alexander is a reflection on childhood, family and the clash between innocence and harsh reality. In our opinion, the film is one of Bergman’s most personal and expansive works, capturing both the joys and sorrows of life through the eyes of two children. The theatricality of the Ekdahl family contrasts sharply with the cold, authoritarian world of the bishop, who embodies the tension between freedom and oppression, joy and suffering. At its core, the film is about the loss of innocence and the endurance of the human spirit, even in the face of cruelty. With its rich, textured narrative and lush cinematography, Fanny and Alexander offers a sweeping picture of family life, childhood and the passage of time.

3. Wild Strawberries (1957)

In Wild Strawberries, an elderly professor, Isak Borg, travels to receive an honorary doctorate. Along the way, he reflects on his life, his past mistakes and the emotional distance that has defined his relationships. Through a series of dreams, flashbacks and encounters with younger people, Borg is forced to face the emptiness of his existence and the coldness that has isolated him from those he loves.

Wild Strawberries is a poignant meditation on regret, aging and the search for redemption. Bergman uses Borg’s journey as a metaphor for a man’s search for meaning in the twilight of his life, forcing him to face the consequences of his emotional detachment and the toll it has taken on his relationships. The film’s exploration of memory and nostalgia is both bittersweet and deeply moving, as Borg relives moments from his past and realizes that his life, despite outward success, has been marked by loneliness and missed opportunities. Wild Strawberries speaks to the universal human experience of looking back on life and wondering what might have been, making it one of Bergman’s most introspective and heartfelt works.

2. Persona (1966)

Persona follows a nurse, Alma (Bibi Andersson), who is given the care of an actress, Elisabet (Liv Ullmann), who has become mute. As they retreat to a secluded house by the sea, the boundaries between the two women begin to blur, and Alma finds herself questioning her identity as she becomes increasingly entangled in Elisabet’s silence and mystery.

Persona is one of Bergman’s most daring and enigmatic films, exploring the fragile and often porous nature of identity. The film explores how individuals construct and project their personas, and what happens when those personas begin to disintegrate. The intense psychological interplay between Alma and Elisabet reveals the dark, hidden parts of the human psyche and explores themes of guilt, shame and the dissolution of the self. Persona is also a meditation on the nature of communication and the limitations of language, while Elisabet’s silence forces Alma to face her own insecurities and desires. Visually and thematically, Persona is a master class in cinematic minimalism, with Bergman using stark and symbolic imagery to dive deep into the human condition. And it remains one of his most complex and haunting films.

1. The Seventh Seal (1957).

In The Seventh Seal, a knight named Antony Block (Max von Sydow) returns to Sweden after the Crusades, only to find the country devastated by the Black Plague. Faced with the inevitability of death, Block enters into a game of chess with the Grim Reaper in search of answers about life, death and the existence of God. As the game progresses, Block encounters several characters struggling to make sense of their own lives in light of the plague’s devastation.

The Seventh Seal is Bergman’s most iconic film and it brought him international recognition. The film is a philosophical meditation on death, faith and the search for meaning in a world where suffering seems ubiquitous. During Block’s existential journey, Bergman explores humanity’s deepest fears – the fear of death, the silence of God and the uncertainty of what lies beyond. The chess game between Block and Death is one of cinema’s most enduring metaphors and represents humanity’s futile attempts to outwit mortality. Despite its heavy themes, The Seventh Seal is also a deeply human film, offering moments of compassion, humor and beauty amid the darkness. It remains a profound exploration of the human condition and our relentless search for answers in the face of life’s greatest mysteries.

Ingmar Bergman’s films are a testament to his unparalleled ability to explore the deepest recesses of the human soul. His cinematic landscapes are filled with questions of faith, mortality, identity and the meaning of existence, all rendered with an emotional intensity and visual beauty that make his work timeless. Whether the existential musings of The Seventh Seal, the psychological intricacies of Persona, or the melancholic reflections of Wild Strawberries, Bergman’s films continue to resonate with us for their emotional honesty and philosophical depth. His oeuvre remains an essential part of world cinema, offering profound insights into the human experience.

Now we’d love to hear your experiences with Ingmar Bergman’s work! Which of his films do you think are the best? Would you rearrange the list or add others? Do you have any memorable moments from his films? We can’t wait to read your opinions in the comments!