The Phantom Carriage

Victor Sjöström's 1921 story of a reprobate named David (Sjöström himself in a brilliantly understated performance) who is given a tour—à la A Christmas Carol—of his wretched waste of a life, remains one of the masterpieces of Swedish cinema, as well as a hugely influential film of the silent era (Ingmar Bergman, who was mentored by Sjöström, repeatedly praised it). The plot is inspired by a Swedish legend that the last person to die on New Year's Eve must drive Death's carriage around the world to collect the souls of those who pass away the following year. While most of the early Swedish classics were sweeping sagas set in the rugged outdoors, this mix of folk tale, tragedy, and redemptive melodrama is a more intimate work created in the studio. Sjöström sculpts his scenes in light and shadow—from the squalid lives of his characters to the spectral images of the horse-drawn vehicle—coaxing nuanced performances of quiet intensity from his cast. Remarkably modern for 1921, this is a silent film with powerful visuals and storytelling that will appeal even to contemporary audiences. Criterion presents the long-awaited home-video debut in a superb edition on both DVD and Blu-ray, beautifully mastered from a restored print created by the Swedish Film Institute. Extras include audio commentary by film historian Casper Tybjerg, an interview excerpt with Bergman, and a video essay on Bergman's connection with Sjöström. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)