Reel Politique: Rosenbaum on Bergman, Part 3
The Bergman debate still rages. Now, one of the greatest of contemporary film’s critical minds gets in the act. David Bordwell (seen at left), author of several standard textbooks on film history and style, as well as books on filmmakers such as Carl Dreyer and the book Making Meaning, posts his views on Jonathan Rosenbaum’s column at his own website. Professor Bordwell’s take is interesting because he brings a certain common sense to the proceedings, and then goes on to be specific about what aspects of Bergman’s films might have brought Rosenbaum to his conclusions.
“Jonathan’s case is news in the good, grey ** Times,” Professor Bordwell writes, “but it’s an old story among his (my) generation.”
After that, Professor Bordwell develops a highly technical argument concerning the extended amount of time Bergman spent shooting his films conventionally while all the great European directors around him, including Antonioni, were adopting wide screens and color.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rosenbaum himself comes to his own defense with a response to Roger Ebert’s column. He should just remain quiet until this whole thing blows over.