The Magician (Ansiktet) (The Face) (1958)

100% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(2,088 ratings)

Much better known in the U.S. as The Magician, this award-winning, surreal, evocative drama stars Max von Sydow as the title character and features several of Sweden's top performers. Set in the 1840s in Stockholm, the mystery and enigma of life and death itself are embodied in Vogler, the magician… More Much better known in the U.S. as The Magician, this award-winning, surreal, evocative drama stars Max von Sydow as the title character and features several of Sweden's top performers. Set in the 1840s in Stockholm, the mystery and enigma of life and death itself are embodied in Vogler, the magician who runs "Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater." When his traveling show arrives in town, the police commissioner, a doctor, and a civil servant are intent on putting his supernatural powers to the test. As the pendulum swings between fearful images and moments of comic relief, the mysterious Mr. Vogler defies analysis. In 1959, Ansiktet was given the "Best Film" prize at the British Academy Awards, the "Best Foreign Film" prize at the New York Film Critics Awards, and two prizes at the Venice Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Ingmar Bergman
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 26, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Oct 12, 2010

Critic Reviews

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
The movie has elements of Gothic horror and philosophy, along with lusty, low comedy rolls.
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
It is one of Bergman's most tightly structured and frightening films.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Both a rebuke to critics and a confession of charlatanism, The Magician puts forward a one-of-a-kind examination of the problem of truth in life and in art. [Blu-ray]
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
The Magician is Ingmar Bergman playing dead in all possible senses of the term.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
reflects Bergman's fundamental understanding of the cinema as an illusionistic play of light and shadow that can nonetheless reveal some of the deepest recesses of the human experience
, Film4
An enigmatic, complex and immensely enjoyable film.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An underrated Ingmar Bergman film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
THe Magician is still fascinating, presenting a myriad of challenging ideas about magic, reality, and the nature of film itself.
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Following The Seventh Seal and preceding his "Trilogy of Faith", The Magician lies at the heart of one of the most creative periods in Bergman's career.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

Sort've a similar set-up to The Seventh Seal. There's another great ensemble cast led by the towering Scandinavian known as Max Von Sydow. This isn't so much a historical commentary, but rather a specific look at the effects of science on professions like magicians. The… More
Sort've a similar set-up to The Seventh Seal. There's another great ensemble cast led by the towering Scandinavian known as Max Von Sydow. This isn't so much a historical commentary, but rather a specific look at the effects of science on professions like magicians. The doubt and suspense concerning the legitimacy of Vogler's act is really such a nice aspect. It?M)s been later used in movies like The Illusionist and The Prestige, but nothing since has quite the same authenticity of mysticism and rich storytelling. Ingmar Bergman's vision is so unbelievably present in this and I feel that it's one of his more overlooked works. I think that it's not so filled with subjective imagery is probably what makes it so unique. This manages to have the same feeling, but at the same time a completely different way of achieving it. It's not really part of any genre, which is what is my favorite thing. Bergman kind've is a genre in itself and a great one at that.
Cassandra M

Max von Sydow, Gunner Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin are three of Bergman's most consistent quality performers and all three have major roles in this film. There are a fair number of stereotypical character parts, mostly performed by ensemble quality character actors. Bibi… More
Max von Sydow, Gunner Bjornstrand and Ingrid Thulin are three of Bergman's most consistent quality performers and all three have major roles in this film. There are a fair number of stereotypical character parts, mostly performed by ensemble quality character actors. Bibi Andersson is capable of far more than her giggly girl part enables her to show in this film. Indeed, there is some comedic material in this film reminiscent of Smiles of a Summer Night, but don't mistake this movie for one of Bergman's less masterful light pieces, this has real depth and substance. There are some amazing bits of cinematography, especially the early scenes. The pacing of the movie is masterful, as is the clever use of parallels in the story - the failed actor "dying" and then reviving is a prelude to the pivotal incident around Vogler's "demise". Top notch scenes include Mrs Egerman opening up to Vogler - she seems so lost - also both scenes in which Bjornstrand's character (Vergerus) insists that he was not taken in by the "magic".
Walter M

In "The Magician," Albert Vogler(Max Von Sydow), magician, is traveling through the countryside with his protege, Aman(Ingrid Thulin), grandmother(Naima Wifstrand) and manager, Tubal(Ake Fridell), when they come upon Johan(Bengt Ekerot), an actor who is very ill. Their new… More
In "The Magician," Albert Vogler(Max Von Sydow), magician, is traveling through the countryside with his protege, Aman(Ingrid Thulin), grandmother(Naima Wifstrand) and manager, Tubal(Ake Fridell), when they come upon Johan(Bengt Ekerot), an actor who is very ill. Their new passenger dies but it is not his body that the authorities are curious about. Rather, Dr. Vergerus(Gunnar Bjornstrand), Police Superintendant Starbeck(Toivo Pawlo) and Consul Egerman(Erland Josephson) have some very pointed questions about the act and wish to see him perform on the following day. "The Magician" is a darkly engaging movie from Ingmar Bergman that does a neat job of keeping the audience off balance. By that I mean, both the audience in the movie and the one watching the movie. The movie is set in 1846 when reason was starting to take hold but superstition was still ingrained enough in the consciousness to give power to what Vogler is trying to do. On another level, it is about the fine line between performance and reality for an artist. As Kurt Vonnegut put it in the preface for his novel "Mother Night," we are what we pretend to be.(That sound you hear is Stephen Colbert having the mother of all existential crises.) By the way, this is probably also the first time a law enforcement officer is referred to as a pig.
Simeon D

I'm surprised this isn't more well known. I mean this is the same caliber as The Seventh Seal. Really. Tremendous direction from Bergman, especially the Gothic thrills and minuscule mannerisms, and the B&W cinematography is excellent. 98/100 More at:… More
I'm surprised this isn't more well known. I mean this is the same caliber as The Seventh Seal. Really. Tremendous direction from Bergman, especially the Gothic thrills and minuscule mannerisms, and the B&W cinematography is excellent. 98/100 More at: http://thegreatestreview.blogspot.com/2011/03/something-else-you-probably-havent.html
Tobias X

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Anthony V

Prepare to be amazed. The kind of cinematography that reducing professionals to sobbing children. Oh, and the story and acting's good too.