Run time: 112 mins

Writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve takes a textured look at the nature of relationships in this multi-layered homage to all things Ingmar Bergman.

On a working holiday to Faro, the Swedish island where Bergman lived and shot many of his classics, husband-wife filmmakers Tony and Chris settle in to the quirky, gentle pace of local life. Exploring the island separately, Tony on a Bergman Safari and Chris guided by visiting student Hampus, they hope to find inspiration for their upcoming work. As Chris is beginning to draft the plot for her new film, souvenirs of her first love become woven into her screenplay and the lines between between fiction and reality begin to blur.

In an engaging performance, Vicky Krieps is open and thoughtful as Chris. By contrast, Mia Wasikowska’s role as Amy, the young woman at the centre of Chris’ screenplay is played as more openly emotive, a young woman grappling with both her past and future. Hansen-Love makes terrific use of the places where Bergman lived and worked, playfully echoing iconic moments, while the dialogue explores shifting attitudes toward relationships and gender roles over the decades. A pitch-perfect depiction of the challenge faced balancing a connection with deep, lingering feelings.