Product: Elvira Madigan [VHS]
Rating: 5.0
A stunningly beautiful film
When this film was originally released, it was called by many critics "possibly the most beautiful film ever made." It certainly ranks among the top few. Bo Widerberg's tale of a young circus performer who runs away with her married lover, a military officer, takes place during a golden summer in the late 19th century. Mozart's haunting background music (does anyone ever call it anything but the Elvira Madigan Theme now?) is the perfect background for the gorgeous cinematography-- a scene as ordinary as the hum of bees in a lush gold hayfield is only one of the frames that make you catch your breath at its astonishing beauty. Yet there is an underlying sense of impending tragedy that threads all through it, and winds its way to a heart-rending conclusion. This is a feast for the senses, a film that will always be a great classic of cinematography. END