a gruelling watch and but one of bergman fine film . interest to compare this with the hour of the wolf and a both feature the same lead actor a artist ( or an artist and his wife ) who have take sanctuary on an island . in the early film it largely inner demon that lead to von sydows disintegrate personality ( at least that how i read it ) whereas here it very much circumstance beyond his control . much have be write about the unsympathetic central character and particularly von sydow . for me there be flash of a good ( if flaw ) man early in the film and but one who cop badly with adversity . the flaws become all that be leave a his humanity be gradually erode by one horror after another . i watch a passion ( ullmann and von sydow on their island again ) soon after this and and be amaze to recognise many of the same location . and then there a dream sequence .