Autumn Sonata
Seen it?1978 | 93 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10) and it drew serious awards attention. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in Swedish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1978: an older pace and style.
After a seven-year absence, Charlotte Andergast travels to Sweden to reunite with her daughter Eva. The pair have a troubled relationship: Charlotte sacrificed the responsibilities of motherhood for a career as a classical pianist. Over an emotional night, the pair reopen the wounds of the past. Charlotte gets another shock when she finds out that her mentally impaired daughter, Helena, is out of the asylum and living with Eva.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesStrong
8.0 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Also nominated for 2 Oscars and 1 more Golden Globe. Plus 8 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerStrong
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 85K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Hamlet
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Dancer in the Dark Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
Interiors Saturday SpecialAnother drama that's easy to miss.
Othello
Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Mr. Church
Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
- Ingrid BergmanCharlotte
- Liv UllmannEva
- Lena NymanHelena
- Halvar BjörkViktor
- Marianne AminoffCharlotte's Private Secretary
- Arne Bang-HansenUncle Otto
- Gunnar BjörnstrandPaul
- Erland JosephsonJosef
- Georg LøkkebergLeonardo
- Mimi PollakPiano Instructor