It's funny that I checked this out on the same day as PRISON (1949): having found that film stimulating (I'd been away from Bergman or Art-house cinema, for that matter, for a while) after going through several Bela Lugosi films of late, I then found myself quite worn-out intellectually by the time I was done with THE RITE - which only confirms my previously-held belief that Bergman (like his staunchest pupil, Woody Allen) is best taken in small doses!; actually, this factor also goes a long way in explaining why his 5-hour marathon SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (1973) and AUTUMN SONATA (1978) have been gathering dust among my extensive "DVDs To Watch" pile for the last 3 years already!!

That is not to say that I didn't admire the film on an artistic level (the rating alone attests to that),though stylistically constrained by having originated in TV - but which actually suits its claustrophobic tone and compact plotting (the film is mercifully short at just 73 minutes). Still, the constant soul-searching (often descending into hysterics) is matched by no-holds-barred performances from a slim cast - which almost make it seem like a parody of the typical Bergman film: for one thing, the climactic re-enactment of the indecent 'rite' (for which a troupe of performers has been indicted before an outwardly tenacious judge, but who's ultimately revealed to be as angst-ridden as they are!) would be fairly risible - what with the male members of the trio sporting, for no obvious reason, huge black dildos as part of their costume - were it not for the hypnotic intensity of the mise-en-scene!!

Needless to say, despite my reservations about the director's work in general, I'll still be renting the titles I haven't watched from Tartan's "Bergman Collection" which the owner of my local DVD outlet has said are on the way...

An intriguing sexually explicit and frank film about a number of different things, ranging from anti-censorship sentiments to neuroses, it is well directed by Ingmar Bergman, shot from interesting angles and making good use of close-ups, but still it is far off the level of Bergman's best work. The ideas are a bit all over the place and the film is too talkative for it to have much chance of establishing atmosphere. The events of the final ten or so minutes are contrived too, particularly concerning the main character. Either way, it makes an interesting enough watch, and if not for its cinematic virtues, at least for giving an idea of the very adult stuff allowed on Swedish television in 1969! Worthwhile for Bergman fans; others might want to try out a few of his other films before giving this a go.

Pros: 1. The aspect ratio of 1.33 : 1 and the usage of close-ups help add weight to the drama and tension, as it provides a more personal feel to the film. 2. There are no weak performances. Ingrid Thulin (Thea Winkelmann),Erik Hell (Judge Dr. Abrahamson),Gunnar Björnstrand (Hans Winkelmann) all deliver great performances. Anders Ek (Sebastian Fisher) in particular is phenomenal. 3. The dialogue is intense, well-written, and enthralling to listen to. 4. The rape scene is suitably uncomfortable and impactful to watch. 5. There is an appropriate insertion of an eerily disturbing and ominous score. 6. The last 12 minutes are captivating and serve as a satisfying end for Judge Dr. Abrahamson.

Cons: 1. The movie at times is a little too slow-paced, despite its relatively short run-time. 2. The editing and cutting is a little too abrupt at times.