In the Presence of a Clown (TV)

Inventor Carl Åkerblom is 54, as rosy-cheeked as a child, an admirer of Franz Schubert--and a patient in the psychiatric ward of Akademiska Hospital in Uppsala. He has attempted to beat his fiancée to death. With the collaboration of fellow patient Osvald Vogler, Åkerblom essays a fascinating film project: the living talkie. Soon the two colleagues set off on a frantic tour with their new film: The Joy of the Joyous Girl. IN THE PRESENCE OF A CLOWN, Bergman's latest dramatic effort for Swedish television, is a rollicking spoof on the theater and film, full of the Master's characteristic mix of humor and darkness. Based on a story that Bergman found among papers left by his favorite uncle--an inventor and engineer--at his death, CLOWN features Uncle Carl as its protagonist. He is played by Börje Ahlstedt, who had the same role in Fanny and Alexander, Best Intentions and Sunday's Child (the latter directed by Ingmar Bergman's son Daniel). The cast of IN THE PRESENCE OF A CLOWN also includes Marie Richardson, as Carl's young fiancée, Erland Josephson, Pernilla August, Peter Stormare, Anita Björk, and Anna Björk. The title is taken from Shakespeare's "Macbeth", act five scene five, when Macbeth says that "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.". "Struts and frets" can be translated with "larmar och gör sig till". Though made for television, In the Presence of a Clown was screened in the "Un certain regard" at the Cannes film festival.