The Touch Reviews

If you see only one Bergman movie in your life, don't let this be it. His first film in English, THE TOUCH marks a move to a more simplistic style of drama in that it steers away from symbolic explanations of the inexplicable. The story is an uncomplicated one. Andersson and von Sydow are content in their marriage. However, when Gould, the wandering Jew, enters Andersson's life, she begins yearning for the freedom that she no longer has. Though Andersson is attracted to Gould, she is indecisive about her situation, torn between her two worlds. The film is marred not so much by the familiarity of the story as by the embarrassing presence of Gould in a role which clearly is not suited to him. Especially disturbing is his dialogue (perhaps due to cultural unfamiliarity on Bergman's part), which seems out of place and awkward. Andersson turns in a beautiful performance.