Private Confessions

1996 3h 16m SV

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 16

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Five conversations frame a flawed marriage in this film written by Ingmar Bergman about his parents. Guilt-ridden wife Anna (Pernilla August) divulges an extramarital affair to a priest, her uncle Jacob (Max von Sydow). He presses her to confess her sins to her husband, Henrik. As the film moves back and forth in time, the notion of truth is tested. Tomas, the lover, and Henrik will find that Anna's confessions do not absolve anyone, and have the power to inflict more pain.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Pernilla August
Anna
Max von Sydow
Jacob
Samuel Fröler
Henrik
Anita Björk
Karin Åkerblom
Thomas Hanzon
Tomas Egerman
Gunnel Fred
Märta Gärdsjö
Hans Alfredson
Biskop Agrell
Vibeke Falk
Fröken Nylander

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Liv Ullmann
Writers: Ingmar Bergman
Languages: Swedish
Countries: Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 196 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

30 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Liv Ullmann, shot by Sven Nykvist. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michał Leszczyłowski shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Pernilla August and Max von Sydow and Samuel Fröler carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0115164 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Liv Ullmann directs. Sven Nykvist behind the camera. Michał Leszczyłowski cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in Sweden. Dialogue in Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 196 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
230 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Liv Ullmann, shot by Sven Nykvist. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Michał Leszczyłowski shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Pernilla August and Max von Sydow and Samuel Fröler carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0115164 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.