Many people may have missed the satisfaction of reading the extra layer of meaning in this film: that the "magician" is the the filmmaker or visa versa, in this case Bergman himself. Without giving anything of the plot away, I can say that The Magician is a reflection on Bergamn's role as a creator of illusions. He uses the story of a roving theatrical troupe with an magician to illuminate the metaphor. The apparently abrupt turn of events at the end is Bergman's signal that he is the master of your perceptions in this medium, that he compares to the experience of dreaming.

It is interesting to compare this film with Fellini's 8 1/2, another filmmaker's reflection on the process and meaning of film-making. Two very different sensibilities are at work in these two films, but with surprisingly close parallels in their endings, and involuted plots.

I found this film highly satisfying on many levels, even taken at its apparent face value, as a romp. Seen a second time the illusionist begins to emerge more clearly, from the moment the film opens, with the lighting of the arc lamp of a film projector.

Ever since seeing The Seventh Seal, I have become a fan of Ingmar Bergman. Maybe The Magician is not up there with his finest, but of the Bergman movies I've seen so far(which is perhaps a little under 2/3 of his filmography) every single one of them are worth watching in some way or other and The Magician is no exception. Maybe the ending, while intriguing is rather rushed, but as always with Bergman there is so much good. As to be expected, I love the look of the film, the settings are appropriately Gothic and everything is beautifully shot. Bergman's direction is also superb, no qualms there, while the symbols and images are meaningful and stay in your mind for a long time. The music is appropriately haunting, while the story has its compelling magic along with its fair share of fun and thrills and the dialogue is very thought-provoking. The characters are also interesting, and this is elevated hugely by the acting. Max Von Sydow gives a bravura performance, not a surprise as he is a wonderful actor whose face alone tells so much. Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Bibbi Andersen and Naima Wifstrand give splendid support as well. All in all, The Magician is a very interesting Bergman film but sadly it is also an overlooked one. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I'm slowly making my way through the Bergman canon (thank you Netflix) and am having a ball. I saw this film about forty years ago and forgot how captivating it is. Things are not as they seem anywhere in this movie. People die and come back to life, some can speak and then they can't. It has great villains and an incredible cast. Of course, it's the story of a group of traveling showmen who arrive at the home of some wealthy people. They are seen as an inferior class and are forced to grovel before they can earn their livings. They participate in byplay with those who have come to see them (some from the local village),including he servants. There is sexual activity and a lot of manipulation. When the actual magic show begins, we are in on some of the tricks, but others are unexplainable. These people seem able to act on the minds of the characters and get them to expose their dirty secrets. But, as we see, there are other forms of magic, not just the dark kind. Watch this a couple of times. You won't be disappointed.