In turn, Cage emerges from his coma, escapes and assumes Travolta's identity. Needless to say, this scenario calls for a large helping of verisilimitude, but thanks to non-stop slam bang action, amazing special effects and decent performances by the stars in their comic book roles, the movie works. Fanny and Alexander Ingmar Bergman's last film is the chronicle of a marriage set in turn of the century Sweden and recounting all the trials, travails and joys experienced by the couple and their family. Largely autobiographical, this film glows with Sven Nykvist's gorgeous camera work. Family Life Janice is a young woman trying to come to grips with her identity within the controlling and claustrophobic confines of her rigidly middle-class family and their fixed expectations.
Many scenes involving therapists have a documentary-like ambience.
As in a psychological case study we are led to see Janice's troubles as an outcome of her parent's controlling behavior. They insist on her having an abortion which leads to her rapid degeneration and institutionalization. It's a bit of a period piece in that Loach is clearly in support of talk-based therapy as practiced by the one positive therapist who treats her. But he is dismissed from the hospital for bucking the system by using imaginative experimental techniques and Janice finds herself drugged and subjected to shock therapy during which her problems deepen. Then the camera pulls back and we see a row of gurneys littered with benumbed patients.