Richa;rd A. Blake, S.J.
The Vanishing Cod in the Films of lngmar Bergman A comprehensive view of the idea of God in the development of Bergrnan's fil1ns.
No film-maker has ever drawn the theological attention that
Ingmar Bergman has ; articles on his work are as likely to appear in The Clagy Review as in Film Qua;rterly. Once his sexual frankness was so surpassed by later and Jess skillful directors that it was no longer shocking ot¡ offensive, he has become standard fare at college film festivals sponsored by religions groups. Frequently, too, he is recommended for adult discussion groups. The reason is quite simple; religions furniture clutters ail his films: the crucifix, crises of faith, pilgrimages, prayers, processions, pauline references, heroic pastors and unscrupulous seminary professors. Christians have accepted Ingmar Bergman as their own. But surely his is a Christianity which demands severe scrutiny. He has written, "To me religions questions are continuously alive. I never cease to concern myself with them." However, the fact that his films abound in religions image and language, coupled with the fact that his father was an Evangelical Lutheran minister in Stockholm, should not lead us to 145